POOLE Town boss Tom Killick is eager for his players to maintain their motivation in a bid to replicate their heroics from last season's National South campaign.

Despite finishing fifth last term, Dolphins were denied the opportunity to take part in the play-offs due to not having 500 seats under cover at the Black Gold Stadium.

But, with the club having provided the necessary ground grading requirements to remain at step two of the non-league pyramid this season, Killick is looking for his players to rise to the challenge on the field once again.

Speaking ahead of Poole’s league opener at Weston-super-Mare tomorrow (3pm), Killick told the Daily Echo: “It was a great feeling to finish in the play-off positions but very demoralising not to be able take part in them.

“I think it almost stimulates your ambition to repeat it, on the basis that, this time, you hope you are going to get your reward.

“We are just motivated to try to replicate it and put thrust in the club to make sure that, this time, we are allowed to compete. That’s all we can do in terms of me as a manager and the players as players.”

Should the Dolphins be in the mix for the play-offs again this season, Killick is hopeful his squad will get their reward this time round.

He added: “As I understand it, there are two elements to it. One – we are still hoping common sense will prevail with the National League and the ruling will be looked at.

“If that doesn’t happen then, as a club, we have got to find a way to get the grading we need.

“But it’s not easy because of the lengths we had to go to to secure the grading we got last year. It’s easy to forget that was a really big ask and was something which stretched the club to its limit.

“To then be in a position where we have got to do it all again in terms of the seating, I know is very difficult for the club but that’s something the directors are concentrating their minds on. I am reassured that is the case.”

Speaking about his side’s ambition on the field, the Poole boss added: “If you look at what we are competing against in terms of other teams, we have got a really big task to get near the play-off spots. That’s enough of a challenge for us without worrying about the other stuff.

“If you are not focused on the here and now, you get found out. We just need to start all over again and fight for every point."

Killick’s only fitness concern is young striker Luke Roberts, who is struggling after picking up a knee injury against Weymouth last weekend.

Defender Michael Walker remains a long-term absentee.