SIMON Browne reckons Wimborne Town’s school of hard knocks can push his Portsmouth loanees to make it as professionals – by putting them off non-league for life.

Pompey striker Brandon Joseph-Buadi could line up alongside last week’s debutants Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kaleem Haitham when Magpies journey to Larkhall in Southern South & West tomorrow (3pm).

Browne told the Daily Echo: “Mikey (Harris, Pompey coach) wants them to get a taste of what non-league is like – proper football as he called it – and to say in a strange way ‘this is not what you want to get into, work hard and make sure you progress’.

“These deals benefit them as much as us. By all accounts, all three are very well thought of at Portsmouth with a good chance of getting contracts.

“They had their first taste of adult football against Evesham and it was interesting to watch how they coped with it, they got better as the game went on.

“Christian is a big, strong lad. He made a couple of surging runs and was not frightened of getting stuck in, while Kaleem showed some nice touches.”

Browne says his next priority is to bolster his backline, adding: “We are still hunting high and low. I need a couple of defenders specifically but that may take a bit longer and will depend on my meeting with the board of directors and what I have to play with.”

Morgan Turner and the suspended Jamie Davidson are set to be Wimborne’s only absentees.

  •  Elsewhere, Southern League Premier Division leaders Poole Town will be hoping to make it third time lucky when they journey to Merthyr Town.

The Martyrs pocketed a point with a 2-2 draw at Tatnam in August before ending Poole’s FA Trophy bid at the end of October.

In the Wessex League Premier Division, Bournemouth Poppies host Brockenhurst, Verwood entertain Blackfield & Langley, Hamworthy United journey to Fareham and Lymington welcome Bemerton.

Christchurch make the short trip to Ringwood in Division One, while New Milton travel to Alton (all 3pm).