DORCHESTER boss Roy O’Brien is aiming to keep his Magpies grounded ahead of tonight’s trip to Blue Square South new boys Staines Town (7.45pm).

O’Brien’s side sit top of the table following an impressive 3-0 opening day victory over St Albans City on Saturday.

The Magpies were in exactly the same position two years ago but eventually finished second bottom in 2007/08 and only escaped relegation courtesy of a reprieve.

The county town chief is urging his players to maintain their focus going into a tricky clash with Staines, who also won their first game of the new season 1-0 at Weston-super-Mare.

O’Brien said: “They will be an unknown quantity but so will we be for them.

“They’re flying high following promotion and victory at Weston-super-Mare on Saturday but hopefully we’ll apply ourselves and worry more about our own game plan.

“We need to be fully focused and try to nullify them as much as we can.

“I’d like to see more of the same performance against St Albans but it’s important that we go into the game in the right frame of mind. Saturday’s game is gone and tonight’s match will be completely different, we’ve got no divine right to go there and get a result following Saturday’s win.

“Another 41 victories like that would be great but all you can do is take each game as it comes because if you drop your focus you can get turned over.”

Nick Crittenden will serve the final game of a two-match ban while fellow midfielder Harry Montacute, who, along with Harry Nodwell, has joined on non-contract terms, is now suspended for three games following his sending off in a pre-season friendly at Hamworthy United.

Under-18 keeper Sam Filkins is expected to replace Regan Coward on the substitutes' bench this evening.

Magpies (from): Northmore, Jermyn, Smeeton, Hill, Bowles, Mitchell, Gleeson, Forbes, Martin, Moss, Walsh, Filkins, Vickers, Nodwell, Groves, Flood.