BOSS Gary Bailey says his Portland United side need to “relish the challenge” of locking horns with higher league opposition tonight.

Adam Linaker (rib) and Ryan McKechnie (knee) will miss the Blues’ home Dorset Senior Cup quarter-final against Dorchester (7.45pm), but the rest of Bailey’s squad are available for selection.

“We go into it as underdogs without a shadow of a doubt,” said Bailey, whose men are five points clear at the top of Sydenhams Wessex League Division One.

“We are a few leagues apart and not expected to win with the calibre of players they’ve got.

“It’s a good game to have at home and a good test for the lads, and hopefully they’ll give a good account of themselves.

“There is no pressure or expectation on us so we just need to relish the challenge and give it a good go.”

And for Bailey, a tie such as this is not about getting one over on anybody.

He continued: “It gives you a chance to gauge where you are at.

“The lads played higher league opposition in pre-season and enjoyed it, and we just want them to go out and enjoy this game as well.”

Portland saw their top-of-the-table clash with Amesbury Town called off last weekend, while Dorchester battled to a 1-0 win at Histon in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division thanks to Liam Sayers’ solitary strike.