FORMER Tatnam hero Charlie Austin insists Poole Town can continue their FA Cup journey and he is urging the club’s current crop to seize their big chance.

QPR hotshot Austin – one of the Dolphins’ favourite sons – is backing Tom Killick’s men to triumph when they lock horns with Staines Town in a replay tonight.

Poole will entertain Staines at Tatnam (7.45pm) for a rematch after the teams battled out a 0-0 stalemate in their initial fourth qualifying round clash on Saturday.

The winners of the showdown will be richly rewarded with a trip to League One promotion contenders Brentford in the first round proper on Saturday, November 9.

And Austin, who hit 64 goals in 57 Dolphins appearances to earn a move to the professional ranks, believes Southern Premier outfit Poole can make the most of their “hostile” home to overcome higher-level opposition in the shape of Conference South club Staines.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, the 24-year-old said: “You would fancy Poole Town against anyone at Tatnam because I think it is hostile for anyone coming down there, regardless of who it is.

“Tommy knows what he is doing and I think if it all goes right on the night, they will win and go to Brentford in the first round.

“I still speak to Tommy and Chris Reeves (vice-chairman), and I am happy for them.

“I just hope they get a load of people down there to watch the game, get the right result and then play Brentford in the first round, which would be great for the club.

“As much as the players want to win it, Tommy will want to win just as much as anyone else.”

Austin, widely regarded as one of the leading strikers outside the top flight, has netted 89 goals in 169 games as a professional, a prolific record which includes spells with Swindon Town, Burnley and current club QPR.

Discussing the possibility of a high-profile trip to Brentford, Austin added: “It is a big incentive for Poole to try to get the right result.

“When I was at Poole, we beat Merthyr Tydfil 3-0 in the FA Cup and that was a big result for us. They were two leagues above us at the time.

“For anyone playing in the FA Cup, you play against teams from a higher level and you always think ‘Let’s see how we get on against them’. That is certainly how I always felt.”