POOLE Town boss Matt Tubbs is wary of visiting ‘underdogs’ Horndean in the FA Cup, but believes his side can secure safe passage through to the next round if they replicate their midweek performance over Gosport Borough.

Dolphins ended Gosport’s unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 victory on Tuesday night, marking Tubbs’ first win as manager, but Horndean represent a very different type of challenge to Poole.

The Hampshire-based outfit currently ply their trade in the step below Poole, earning promotion via winning the Wessex Premier last term, and will boast home advantage on Saturday (3pm).

Discussing the cup tie, Tubbs told the Daily Echo: “It'll be tough, we know that.

“They will be the underdogs. And as you know, with cup competitions, anything can happen.

“Everyone raises their game, especially away from home as well, it'll be tough.

“We know the pitch, they have got a slope on the pitch, so we know that that could be a bit of a game changer to a degree.

“But I feel as if we defend like we did (against Gosport) and attack with the pace that we did, I'd like to think that we'd be a match for anyone.”

After the departure of four players in the wake of Tom Killick’s sacking, Poole have been active in the transfer market.

Goalkeeper Max Evans has joined from Frome Town, whilst Billy Lowes shortly followed Tubbs across from Bashley for an undisclosed fee, the midfielder returning to Tatnam Farm where he started his senior career.

Both made their first starts of the season for Dolphins in the victory over Gosport.

Tubbs could not rule out any further business in the coming days, sharing: “There's a couple in the pipeline, but like I said on the back of the performance (against Gosport), I'm happy with what we've got so far.

“You're always looking to strengthen.”

The winning side from Saturday’s clash will receive £3,375 and a place in the third qualifying round, whilst teams knocked out will receive £1,125 for their troubles.