A TRIP to Skrill South title contenders Eastleigh tonight holds no fears for bottom side Dorchester Town, insists Magpies’ boss Phil Simkin.

However, the task in front of Simkin’s charges is a daunting one with the Spitfires having only lost once at home in the league this season.

But after holding Sutton to a draw at the Avenue last Saturday, the Dorchester manager reckons bringing something back from the Silverlake Stadium is not out of the question.

Eastleigh, held to a goalless draw by Staines at the weekend, are missing key front men Stuart Fleetwood (injury) and Reece Connolly (suspension), although Sim-kin has a few selection headaches of his own.

Mark Jermyn’s hamstring problem doesn’t appear to be as bad as first thought, but he is out along with striker Warren Byerley who took a bang to his knee against Sutton and is being given time to recover in view of Saturday’s visit to Basingstoke.

There are also concerns over the fitness of midfielders Jamie Gleeson and Nick Crittenden, who misses that Basingstoke clash through suspension.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s fixture, Simkin said: “We’re not going there scared of them or over-awed by them, but we know it’s going to be a tough game.

“It’s going to be hard for us, but if we play like we did on Saturday then we can go there and get something.

“Their manager has got a strong squad of players and it’s going to be a tough ask, then again nobody gave us a prayer on Saturday.

“We are not dead yet. As I said to the players on Saturday, it’s an accomplishment that at this stage of the season we are still in with a shout.

“We are at the bottom of the league and on paper are easy pickings, but Eastleigh are beatable, make no mistake about it.”

Eastleigh will be eager to reclaim top spot after relinquishing it to Bromley following that stalemate with Staines.

The hosts won 2-1 at the Avenue on Boxing Day and the only time they have tasted defeat in the league on their own patch this term came against Tonbridge Angels in November.

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Case, McCarthy, N Walker, S Walker, Smeeton, Lanahan, Gleeson, Crittenden, Losasso, Twyford, Way, Makoni, Chamberlain