BOSS Tom Killick revealed a fixture clash has scuppered Poole Town’s plan to field two rising stars in tomorrow’s Southern League Cup semi-final (7.45pm).

Dolphins duo Jack Dickson and Harry Helyar, dual-registered with Sydenhams Wessex One outfit New Milton Town, will miss the last-four showdown at the expense of another – Linnets’ Russell-Cotes Cup semi-final with Blackfield & Langley.

Both youngsters received praise from Killick for slotting into the back four as the Dolphins cruised past Truro City 2-0 in the quarter-final earlier this month.

But the Poole manager is reluctant to take players from Fawcett’s Field counterpart Callum Brooks as Milton continue their own quest for silverware.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “Quite a few of the squad players I have turned to in this competition are dual-registered and it is just unfortunate that New Milton have such an important game on the same night.

“I do not want to disrupt that because the lads play most of their football over there and it is a good grounding for them. It is a big game for Callum and we are keen to respect that.

“It is a shame, though, because Jack and Harry deserve to play having performed so well in the previous rounds.”

Killick confirmed he would shuffle his pack for the fixture but insisted the competition had not become a hindrance, despite Dolphins’ punishing end-of-season schedule.

Title-chasing Poole still have 14 Southern League Premier Division fixtures and a Dorset Senior Cup semi-final to play in the final nine weeks of the campaign, which includes a blank Saturday following the demise of Hereford United.

Victory over Egham would then add a two-legged final to the equation with the winners of Wednesday’s tie between North Leigh and Corby lying in wait.

“Now we are at this stage, we are keen to go all the way because a lot has gone into getting this far,” said Killick.

“We have enough scope to change things round which we need to do with such an intensive run of games to come. The final being over two games is the down side of it.

“One thing to possibly look at for next season is a one-off game at a neutral ground, or to give home advantage to the team that has scored the most goals.

“If we ended up playing North Leigh over a couple of games then would not be too bad but Corby would be a very long trip to add to the schedule at this stage. If I am honest, that is my main concern.”

Defender Will Spetch, who continued his comeback from a long-term knee complaint with 90 minutes for Wareham reserves on Saturday, and rookie Max Oldham could feature.

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Tallack, Martin, Walker, Spetch, Harris, Close, Devlin, Quigley, Cunniffe-Pilley, Roberts, Oldham, Tallack, Brooks, Whisken, Marques de Salve.