POOLE Town boss Tom Killick said he won’t know if the month-long break from league action will be a good thing "until quarter-past five on Saturday.”

Dolphins welcome Merthyr Town to the Black Gold Stadium on Saturday (3pm) having not played in Southern League South since the 3-3 with Truro City on October 15.

They have played in various cups since then, being knocked out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy by Hayes & Yeading United and Hartley Wintney respectively. Dolphins did beat Portland United 4-1 in the Dorset Senior Cup, however.

Killick told Daily Echo: “We have had a couple of cup games but not played a league game for some time.

“Our last game was a Dorset Senior Cup match and many of the first team squad didn’t play.

“We would not normally want this type of period of inactivity, but we are positive and have had physical and intense trainings, this is something we would not normally get the opportunity to do.

“We are hoping to turn this into a positive. We won’t know until quarter-past five on Saturday as to how it has all panned out.”

Poole now face a busy fixture list in the lead up to Christmas, playing nine matches as well as a Boxing Day clash with Dorchester Town.

Speaking about the busy run, Killick said: “I think we can’t look too far ahead. We can only look at the game that is immediately ahead.

“We have got a fully fit squad which, in a way, you expect after a break. It means we are going into the congested run with everyone to choose from.

“We will likely pick up injuries, but hopefully we have got enough cover in the squad to deal with that.

“As a manager, you are always looking to strengthen the squad, but financially we are not in a position to do that.”

Poole’s opponents, Merthyr currently lie 10th in the league while Poole are four points above, in seventh.

On Merthyr, Killick said: “I think their results have been a little up and down.

“They are a very capable side. Everyone in this league accepts that you can play any side up and down the league and often there is not a lot of difference.

“It is a very competitive league from top to bottom. We are expecting a tough game from Merthyr and I am sure we will get a good game.”