DORCHESTER Town first-team coach Brian Churchill expects an “aggressive” Winchester City side in their Pitching In Southern League Premier South clash, warning: “They hunt in packs”.

Dorchester take on the Citizens tomorrow (3pm) looking to bolster a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

The Magpies, who play their first match in 14 days, are currently placed in seventh ahead of City in 14th – but only six points separate the two in a congested table.

And Churchill is full of respect for a Winchester side that gained promotion to Step 3 before the summer.

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He told Echosport: “It’s going to be a different game for us.

“What last Saturday did, without a game, was give us the opportunity to go and have a look at some local games and look at some opponents coming up.

“Winchester are going to be aggressive, they hunt in packs. We’re going to have to be on our game.”

There is also added spice to the fixture with Dorchester having poached Olly Balmer, Kieran Douglas and Ollie Griggs from City in the summer, although the latter has since returned.

Churchill added: “There’s a few links between the clubs. Unfortunately Ollie couldn’t get game time with us, so it will be nice to meet up with Ollie again.

“I’m sure Olly Balmer and Kieran will have a point to prove. It all feeds into a nice mix for a good game of football.”

Asked if the two-week gap between games comes at a good time ahead of the festive schedule, Churchill said: “You can look at it two ways.

“One, it gives us a little break and players that are carrying knocks the chance to have some treatment and refresh themselves ready for a difficult couple of months.

“One the other hand, you just want to keep playing because we’re in that rich vein of form.

“Our last three away games have reaped five points, so we’re going into the game looking to keep our run going and that points tally up to stay in contention with the play-offs.”

Dorchester are close to announcing a new signing but the game comes too soon for Balmer (knee) and Shaq Gwengwe (ankle), the latter having only returned to full training this week.