A PITCH inspection will be held at the Wessex Stadium at noon today as Weymouth aim to avoid their Dorset Senior Cup quarter-final with Gillingham Town being postponed for the sixth time.

Manager Ian Hutchinson said the pitch was still rock hard yesterday but hoped they could get it on to get the tie – which was originally due to be played on December 1 – out of the way and ease players back into a match environment after an enforced 10-day break.

Should the match be postponed then next Tuesday’s home clash with Staines Town would be in serious doubt, with the Dorset Senior Cup likely to take precedent over the Blue Square South fixture.

“It’s a good chance to give a few of the reserves a go and those who haven’t featured lately like Scott Dixon and Jamie Frampton,” said Hutchinson.

“Most of the boys will be getting 45 minutes to get their legs working in a game situation. But we won’t take it lightly and will give the utmost respect to Gillingham and know it’s going to be a tough game.”

Teenage defender Frampton, who is expected to line up alongside Brice at the heart of the defence tonight, has also asked to have a short spell on loan.

He has not played since the Terras’ 3-2 defeat at Braintree Town on December 5.

“I’ve said I will look into the situation and go from there,” said Hutchinson. “There is nothing set in stone and we will have to assess our injuries and see where we are squad-wise before we make a decision.

“It would be for match fitness and games only because we want him at this football club. He’s a young, local lad with a bright future.”

The long-running saga of this quarter-final tie began back on December 1 and has since seen it called off five times – including 45 minutes before kick off on December 15 – prompting the two clubs to agree a switch to the Wessex Stadium.

The winners will face Wimborne Town or Hamworthy United – both from the Wessex League – or Dorset Premier League side Poole Borough in the semi-finals.

Josh Llewellyn (thigh) and Matt Groves (ankle) are still not 100 per cent fit while Pierre Joseph-Dubois, Stephen Reed and Scott Bennett weren’t at the club before the original tie and therefore are not eligible.

Terras (from): Harrison, Neish, McGuinness, Frampton, Brice, Vincent, Slocombe, Groves, Allen, Rose, Harris, Nicholls, Radcliffe, Dixon, Llewellyn, Foster, Sibbick.