STEVE Walker will make his Blue Square Bet South debut tomorrow when the Magpies travel to Hayes & Yeading (3pm).

The towering centre-back will team up with Mark Jermyn at the heart of the defence and boss Phil Simkin is backing him to grasp the opportunity.

He told Echosport: “Charlie Clough, Arran Pugh and Nathan Walker are all suspended so Steve will make his Conference debut and alongside Jem I have no reason to believe he won’t do well.

“I have every confidence in the lad who has improved beyond all recognition.

“He has had to be extremely patient but his chance has come and I am sure he will take it.”

With older brothers Nathan and Michael (now at Poole Town) having already racked up loads of appearances at the same standard with the Magpies, it is also a chance for Steve to step out of their shadow.

Simkin added: “Steve is the youngest of the three and although he hasn’t had as much publicity as the other two, I have every faith in him.

“He has been out on loan with Hamworthy United for much of the season and it has done him the world of good. He heads the ball miles and I am in no doubt that he will be fine.”

Hayes & Yeading have won just two of their last 11 league games but they are a tough nut to crack at home where they have lost just one in eight.

The mid-table side are currently groundsharing at Wok-ing’s Kingfield Stadium and Simkin is under no illusions about just how tough this weekend’s clash is going to be.

He said: “The pitch at Woking is not the best and the fact that they don’t concede too much there is going to make it very hard.

“Back at the start of January we were 2-0 up against them at home with 10 minutes left, only for them to come back and draw, and there is no doubt those extra points would have made a big difference.

“I still keep looking behind me all the time and I would like to get to 50 points as soon as possible if we can.

“The table is still pretty tight, particularly down at the bottom, and there is no doubt a couple of good results would go a long way.”

Striker Kieffer Moore could return to the Magpies’ squad but will not be risked until his thigh injury is completely healed.

Simkin went on to say: “Kieffer is very close but he has got to be perfect before we put him out on the pitch again.

“There is every chance he could be on the bench tomorrow, if not, he will almost definitely be involved on Tuesday night against Farnborough.

“He made a huge difference in the matches he has already played for us but his game is all about pace and power, and the thigh injury has been restricting him from pulling away.

“That is why it is so important we get him absolutely right before he returns.”

The Magpies currently lie ninth in the table, seven points adrift of the play-offs and five ahead of Hayes, who sit 15th.

Magpies: Matthews, Floyd, S Walker, Jermyn, Brooks, Bell, Smeeton, Gleeson, Nicholls, Morgan, Crittenden, Martin, Malsom, Watson, Nichols, Tennant.