JOE Charles will return for the Bees tomorrow when they travel to Five Heads Park to face Wessex Premier League side Horndean in the preliminary round of the FA Cup (3pm).

However, the Toolstation Western League outfit do still have doubts over the fitness of keeper Sam Filkins, who aggravated a back problem in the warm-up of Tuesday night’s 6-2 league defeat at Wells City.

Jamie Fry took the gloves in his absence at the Athletic Ground and he is on standby again this weekend along with Lee Cuff.

Senior said: “Joe comes back into the squad this week following his return from holiday but there is still a question mark over Sam.

“We believe it is more of a muscular problem than anything else and he will undergo a late check with Jamie and Lee both waiting in the wings should he not make it.

“We will also make a decision on whether to take Ben Clarke with us or let him go with the reserves instead.”

Another player eager to fight his way back into first-team reckoning is Darren Lock, who missed the opening 10 days of the season through a knee injury.

Senior added: “Darren has had three games in the reserves now and has been getting better each time so we will just continue to monitor his progress.”

Like Bridport, Horndean won promotion last season and currently sit 11th in the Wessex Premier following an unbeaten start to the campaign, which has seen them pick up five points from three games in the league, as well as dispose of Verwood Town in the extra preliminary round.

Senior said: “They have started the season very well by all accounts. They are unbeaten in four games and their ground has a bit of a slope so it is going to be a battle and I am sure we will be up for it.

“The 6-2 defeat at Wells on Tuesday did not tell the whole story as there were a lot of positive signs, particularly in the first half, and I was determined to get that through to the players afterwards.

“It is important they do not get too downbeat about that loss and look to bounce back straight away.

“We have just got to be a little bit stronger when we get in front in games and hold the lead for longer.”

Senior went on to add: “Cup competitions like the FA Cup and the FA Vase are great money spinners for clubs like ours and there is no reason why we cannot enjoy a good little run in it this year.

“The last two years we have got through the first stage and then suffered a hammering in the second but hopefully that will not happen this time around and we can produce a good performance and come away with a positive result.”

Bees (from): Filkins, Fry, Cuff, Symes, C Clarke, J Charles, Condliffe, Evans, Senior, Hayter, Richardson, Wise, S Charles, B Clarke, Watts, Legg, Bulman.

* Bridport Reserves entertain Holt United in Magna Dorset Premeir League Cup action (3pm).