PORTLAND United will treat Wessex League Premier Division strugglers Christchurch with respect to avoid “arrogance”, assistant boss Sam Poole insists.

Christchurch, who embarked on a brilliant FA Cup run last season, have since seen ex-manager Ollie Cherrett join Shaftesbury.

His departure has coincided with a rapid loss of form, with the Priory losing 9-0 to Cherrett’s new club in midweek and currently occupying 20th of 21 teams in the league table.

Portland have recently come into good form with a 4-2 win over Alton but Poole is wary of the Blues’ Dorset counterparts.

He told Echosport: “We’re going to treat them as we treated Alton on Saturday and every opponent we come up against – with respect.

“We’re not going into (tomorrow) thinking this is going to be an easy game. Quite often coming off the back of a bad result that can give a team a boost, wanting to right a few wrongs.

READ MORE: Portland United 4-2 Alton - match report

“We’ve got to be wary of that. Looking at ourselves, there’s confidence in the camp and we want to take that into the game but we don’t want that to tip over into arrogance that we can just go out there, turn up and pick up the three points.

“We’re home and our home form is quite good. We’ve played five, won three, so we’ll be looking to continue that.”

Blues’ striker Troy Walbridge returns and Portland have no other injury concerns.

Portland’s Reserves visit Wareham in the Dorset Premier League tomorrow (3pm).