POPPIES boss Ken Vaughan admits he is facing a selection dilemma over whether to rest key players ahead of the club’s FA Vase tilt.

Poppies are set to travel to the north east on Saturday to lock horns with Billingham Synthonia in the fifth round proper of the prestigious competition.

The Bournemouth outfit will be competing in the last 16 for the first time in the club’s 137-year history in the rescheduled clash, following last weekend’s postponement.

With that fixture looming, Victoria Park manager Vaughan is pondering the possibility of tinkering with his Poppies team in tonight’s home game against Wessex League leaders Winchester City (7.45pm).

But Vaughan is also wary of going into the Vase match on the back of a defeat – so he is carefully considering his options ahead of the visit of the Premier Division frontrunners.

Vaughan said: “I’m tempted to make sure I look after what we have got and make sure there are no injuries.

“It is a difficult one because I don’t want to go out and get a drubbing.

“Mentally, we have got to get the players right as well.”

Poppies: (from) Frampton, Crow, Jackson, Byrne, Crutcher, Pinder, Rowley, Ewen, Warren, Taylor, M Blake, Ingram, Mas, Mena, Hogan, Cream, Vaughan.

• Poppies will face either Vase holders Whitley Bay or West Auckland Town at home in the quarter-finals – if they can beat Billingham Synthonia on Saturday.