LUKE Holmes is set to play for Poole Town tomorrow – despite arch-rivals Wimborne Town's informal approach to lure back the teenager.

Wide man Holmes had been on loan to the Magpies from Cherries last season and signed non-contract forms at Cuthbury following his release.

But the 18-year-old opted to accept Poole’s pre-season invitation to play at a higher level and has made five starts and five substitute appearances in the Southern League Premier Division to date.

Dolphins manager Tom Killick is keen to hold on to the youngster, who he backed to go on to “bigger and better things” in an interview with the Echo last month, but the promise of regular starts with Wimborne could prove decisive.

Holmes may start for Poole against winless backmarkers Paulton Rovers. Richard Gillespie and Lewis Lindsay could make their returns from injury but midfielder Jamie Gleeson is expected to be sidelined for another three weeks.

Killick insisted he had no plans to tweak his team against struggling Paulton, even with Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Hastings United on the horizon.

Poole’s boss told the Daily Echo: “There are no thoughts in my mind about different team selections just because Paulton are not doing so well. I don’t think we can afford to do that.

“We played Bideford recently and they gave us a tough match so we know better than that. We need to win games and be at our strongest to do so, the league has taught us that.

“The league will be around long after the FA Cup so the Paulton game is the most important thing and once that’s out of the way, we’ll look at who is fit and available for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Poole winger Jamie Davidson has dual registered with Sydenhams Wessex League outfit Blackfield & Langley.

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Tallack, Spetch, Walker, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Roberts, Brooks, Moore, Connell, Dickson, Holmes, Gillespie, Lindsay, Collins.