Tom Killick expects Gosport Borough’s form to improve as the season progresses, but hopes his Poole Town side can add to their struggles tomorrow (7.45pm).

Gosport currently sit 16th in Southern League South with just two wins so far this campaign. Meanwhile Poole have made a fine start to their quest for promotion and would go back to the top of the table with a win at Privett Park.

“If you look at financial strength, Gosport are probably quite far and away the biggest hitters in the league,” Dolphins boss Killick told the Daily Echo.

“From that point of view I think their indifferent start has probably taken everyone by surprise. But although it seems to have been assembled at huge cost, there has been significant changes in their squad.

“Perhaps I expect as the season goes on they’ll get more and more powerful and their results will inevitably improve, because you don’t invest in players to the extent and calibre they have without ultimately probably fighting at the top end of the table.

“I’m sure their results will improve over time. We’ve just got to try and make sure that any resurgence doesn’t start tomorrow night!”

He added: “Sometimes mentally we seem to be better in games where we almost perceive we’re up against it.

“When there is an expectation that we should win, sometimes I look at our mindset in those two scenarios and sometimes we seem to do better on the former rather than the latter.

“Going away to Gosport is very much in the category of a tough ask. The players don’t normally have any difficultly responding to that.”

Killick is sweating on the fitness of key pair Marvin Brooks and Jack Dickson, who were both forced off in the FA Cup win over Hungerford Town on Saturday due to injury.

"We're hoping they'll both recover," said Killick.

"But there's question marks there. But we're not in too bad a shape in terms of injuries."

Defender Sam Jackson will serve the second of a three-match suspension.