TOM Killick believes it is “unfair” to label Poole Town hotshot Steve Smith the new Charlie Austin, but confessed that the striker’s goals were “invaluable”.

Smith has impressed since Austin’s move into the pro ranks at Swindon Town, with the former Blandford United frontman notching seven goals from four starts since Austin signed off with five goals in Dolphins’ 6-1 win at Moneyfields on September 19.

Prior to Austin’s departure, Smith had started each of Dolphins’ 10 games in all competitions on the bench – bagging five goals along the way.

But boss Killick, whose table-topping side face title rivals Wimborne+Town">Wimborne Town at Tatnam tonight (7.45pm), said: “It’s unfair to compare Steve and Charlie.

“The way Steve plays is as a natural goalscorer and you won’t often see him playing huge parts in general build-up play. He just looks to get on the end of things in the box so he’s a very different player to Charlie.

“But people like Steve are invaluable because he has got that goalscoring knack and you don’t find that too often.

“He’s done well ever since he came to the club but unfortunately for him there has always been really strong competition for places.

“He hasn’t played as often as he would have liked, but whenever he has played or has come on as a substitute, his record has been exceptional.”

Killick has the luxury of naming an unchanged squad for tonight’s mouth-watering clash, despite Saturday’s bruising FA Vase contest at Western League Bishop Sutton, although goalkeeper Nic Jones is still sidelined with a leg injury.

Previewing tonight’s encounter against the Magpies, the Dolphins boss added: “I felt at the start of the season that there was a good chance Wimborne would end up as our main challengers in the league.

“The way things are looking, if we finish above Wimborne then I would expect us to win the league. They probably feel the same in reverse.

“But if we were to lose, it wouldn’t be the end of the world because we still have points in hand on them. For them, it’s a slightly more pressured occasion and if they were to lose, they would have far more ground to make up.”

Nathan Walker is available for Magpies after missing Saturday’s 6-1 Vase win over Gillingham Town, but Kev James is away.

Poole Town: (from) Ackerman, Poore, Whitley, Dibba, P Smith, Lloyd, Preston, Hubbard, Richardson, Browne, Gill, Cook, Brown, S Smith, Skelton.

Wimborne Town: (from) Hutchings, Wilson, Lockyer, Haysom, M Walker, N Walker, Whitcher, Green, Wyatt, Stokoe, Joyce, Clarke, Moore, McCormick, Browne, Walker-Harris.

Elsewhere, in the Hampshire Senior Cup second round, Christchurch are at home to Blue Square South side Eastleigh, while Poppies host Hayling United and New Milton Town welcome Newport (IOW) to Fawcett’s Field (all 7.45pm). Bashley visit Brackley in the Zamaretto Premier Division (7.45pm).

Christchurch: (from) Kearn, Costello, Legg, Crutchley, Linpow, Dan Taylor, Smith, Danny Taylor, Burden, Osborne, Jeffes, Rideout, Fairbrother, Price, Woolner, Dand.

Poppies: (from) Harvell, S Arnold, Byrne, Peprah-Annan, Crutcher, Blake, Roberts, Phillipson-Masters, Wrixton, Bates, Cann, Sanderson, Vaughan, Aimson, Chengadu.

New Milton: (from) Webb, Chengadu, Coleman, Byers, Clarke, Quirk, Booker, Walker, Kenna, Lilley, Gunn, Burt, Mead, Forbes-Broome, Small.

Bashley: (from) Elm, Hill, Ferrett, Gazzard, Middleton, Castle, Knowles, Kelly, Mason, McCarthy, Tarr, Gamble, Keeler, Riley, Prodomo, Knight.