POOLE boss Tom Killick insisted his eyes were fixed on the prize of three points against Bedford – despite the lowly position occupied by tonight’s opponents.

Dolphins begin an arduous end-of-season run in with a trip to the New Eyrie to face the third-bottom Eagles, who are currently 14 points adrift of safety with just three wins from 28 league games.

But despite the Tatnam outfit having 24 matches to fit into the final 12 weeks of the campaign, Killick was quick to scotch any suggestion that he would rest players ahead of the gruelling schedule.

And the manager warned his players that there was no room for complacency with the survival seekers boosting their artillery in recent weeks.

Asked whether he would shuffle his pack, Killick told the Daily Echo: “As I understand it, Bedford have recently signed four or five new players and while their results have not picked up yet they will be a different proposition to what they were a few weeks ago.

“Some clubs in their position would be resigned to their fate but they have made it clear they don’t want to surrender their status without a fight and that mentality makes life difficult.

“It is a midweek match, away from home and it would be dangerous to think we can just go there and roll them over.

“We’re not good enough to be messing about with team selection for what will be a tough game.”

Keith Emmerson is expected to shift across to right-back for the clash as Killick continues his quest to fill the void left by Sam Clarke’s unavailability.

Initial target TJ Cuthbertson has opted to stay at Sholing with the boss keen to find the right man as a matter of urgency.

“Our season boils down to the next three months and in that scenario you have to get any new signings spot on. There is little room for error,” added Killick.

“In an ideal world I would like to sign someone experienced at this level or above but there are no obvious alternatives at this stage.

“I have to bring in someone in that position because we are short but I haven’t decided which direction we will take yet.

“Keith (Emmerson) is as good as anyone there so I have no immediate concerns about the Bedford game but we hope to make progress with it sooner rather than later.”

Other than long-term injury victim Richard Gillespie, Poole have a full squad to choose from.

Dolphins: (from) Buchel, Emmerson, Martin, Charles, Whisken, Pettefer, Chiedozie, Devlin, Elliott, Brooks, Preston, Cann, Spetch, Turner, Lowes, Davies, Dibba, Hutchings.