CHERRIES manager Sean O'Driscoll wants back-up boys James Hayter and Chukki Eribenne to take a leaf out of Jermain Defoe's book.

Hayter and Eribenne have both been forced to take a back seat as loan star Defoe has spearheaded Cherries' rise to the brink of the play-offs. But with one eye on the future, O'Driscoll is keen to ensure the duo are ready to step in when Defoe returns to West Ham at the end of the season.

O'Driscoll said today: "James and Chukki are both capable of scoring as many goals as Jermain and we just need to instil the same belief in them. I'm conscious Jermain is only here on a short-term basis whereas James and Chukki are both part of the club's long-term plans.

"James is his own worse critic and Chukki gets frustrated with himself, but the attitude of both players over the past couple of months has been exemplary. The difference with Jermain is that nothing fazes him and I want James and Chukki to have the same belief in themselves and take what he does on board."

Hayter looks set to earn a recall for tonight's Division Two clash against Reading at Dean Court in place of Wade Elliott who starts a three-match suspension (7.45 kick-off).

And Eribenne, who has made just one starting appearance in the league in the past five months, is likely to be named among the Cherries substitutes.

O'Driscoll added: "James was arguably our best player against Colchester and although I would rather play him up front, he will probably start in midfield.

"Chukki has been through a difficult period, but has been more like his old self in training recently and has deserved to get involved again because he has worked hard.

"We have a good combination of strikers at the moment and when Steve Fletcher couldn't play at Wycombe, Chukki came in and did very well alongside Jermain. James has also done a good job when Jermain hasn't been available, and, between now and the end of the season, they are all going to play their part."

Victory over sixth-placed Reading - in a clash postponed in November - would see Cherries close the gap on the play-off zone to just five points.

But the Royals, who are looking to move into fourth place with a win, will be tough opposition having kept three successive clean sheets.

Reading boss Alan Pardew is likely to restore Martin Butler to his starting line-up after the striker's 15th goal of the season earned the Royals a 1-0 win over Port Vale on Saturday.

O'Driscoll said: "This is another big game. We have played well in a few games and not won this season so tonight we don't want to be content with just playing well."

Cherries: (from) Stewart, Broadhurst, Howe, Tindall, Narada, C Fletcher, Hughes, Jorgensen, Defoe, S Fletcher, Hayter, Smith, O'Connor, Eribenne, Day, Ford, Stock, Keeler, Grant, Huck, Menetrier.

Reading: (from) Whitehead, Newman, Gurney, Hunter, Viveash, Igoe, Parkinson, Caskey, McIntyre, Cureton, Rougier, Butler, Gray, Jones, Gamble, Murty, Howie.