DORCHESTER Town assistant-manager Trevor Senior has labelled the Magpies’ latest pre-season fixture away to Poole Town tonight at Tatnam (7.30pm) as “a big test”.

Senior will temporarily take the reins from holidaying boss Craig Laird, alongside Stuart Heath, and is anticipating a step up in workload against the National League South side.

He told Echosport: “We’ve had two friendlies so far that were against teams from a lower league. This is against an established higher league team that finished fifth last season.

“It’s a massive pitch up there and we have to try and match them. They are going to be a strong side, it’s a big test and we’ll see how we get on.”

Senior also said that the whole squad, with the exception of Ross Carmichael, Jason Brookes and Ollie Griggs, will travel to Poole having previously been split in half.

“We’ll take the full squad there and everybody will get some time. Ross Carmichael is in Greece, Jason Brookes and Ollie Griggs have got little niggles and the physios’ advice is to give them a rest.

“We have got enough players so there’s no point making injuries worse,” he said.

With management duty falling on his shoulders this week, Senior said stepping up is simply good teamwork.

He said: “It’s a while since I’ve managed at this level. I’m doing the job as assistant-manager and now it’s me in the firing line but that’s what we do as a team. It just shows that you need three people to run a side these days.”

Senior revealed that Dorchester are currently talking to Eastleigh about the availability of striker Tom Bearwish, who scored twice for the Magpies against Melksham Town last week.