DORCHESTER Town boss Callum Brooks feels the Magpies are “bouncing” ahead of their trip to Welsh side Merthyr Town in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South tonight (7.45pm).

Brooks, taking charge of his maiden Magpies game at Farnborough last time out, collected a 2-2 draw for a point that failed to elevate his side out of the relegation zone.

But of particular inspiration to Brooks was Dorchester’s positive performance as the visitors showed a battling spirit needed for the current fight to stave off relegation.

Speaking to Echosport ahead of the journey to Wales to face eighth-placed Merthyr, Brooks spoke of the “buzz” in the Dorchester camp.

He said: “The group are bouncing at the moment and as much as it’s a long way to go it’s a good ground up there.

“It’s another 3G pitch, which the lads are used to playing on. We’ve got a buzz about us at the moment, so it’s a game we’re looking forward to.”

While at Hamworthy this season, Brooks accrued 17 wins from 24 games on the 3G surface at the County Ground.

Asked if he saw matches on man-made turf as a specialism of his, Brooks said: “Not really, because I find it also raises the opposition’s game as well.

“There’s more (3G pitches) at this level, whereas we were the only one at Hamworthy so you’d find the game would be a lot quicker, the ball would stay in play a lot more.

“Whereas if you play the ball wide on a bobbly pitch, it might bobble out and then the game’s dead for minute, giving teams a breather and a chance to regroup. So, I don’t see it as an advantage.”

Since taking over, Brooks has noticed an “instant positivity” around the Dorchester squad.

He said: “(Merthyr) is another challenge, but we’re buoyed. I took training on Thursday night and the group was really responsive.

“There was an instant positivity about the place and we carried that into (Farnborough). For us it’s not a case of linking things together – it’s 10 cup finals.

“We’ll go to each game, give it everything we’ve got and the aim is to accumulate enough points to pull away from danger.

“We haven’t got time to dwell and talk about building things for the future. It’s a case of ‘right, now go to the next game.’”

An early feature of Brooks’ tenure has been his desire to study the opposition, with the Martyrs not escaping the former Poole number two’s attention.

He said: “I’ve got a couple of reports coming, same as I did on Farnborough. Obviously, I’ll have watched some footage myself. It proved valuable (against Farnborough).”

Joe Low is set to return from a three-game ban, while Brennan Camp is in contention after sustaining a minor knock at Bournemouth training.

Captain Neil Martin (appendix operation) will be out for between four and six weeks, while Nathan Walker could make his first appearance since signing on dual registration from Hamworthy United.

Billy Lowes is expected to continue as captain in Martin’s absence.