BOSS Adie Arnold believes Cowes Sports could pose the stiffest test to title-chasing Verwood Town during their Wessex One run-in.

The Potters, seven points clear at the summit, will be looking to take another step towards promotion when they head to Westwood Park tomorrow (3pm).

Eighth-placed Cowes held Verwood to a 2-2 draw at Potterne Park in November and the Islanders impressed Arnold during a midweek scouting mission.

He told the Daily Echo: “I watched them at Stockbridge on Tuesday and they are a very good side. Their league position is a bit false in my opinion and maybe they have under-achieved this season.

“We have got five games left and, on paper, this is going to be by far the hardest, especially in their back yard.”

Arnold’s fact-finding trip to Stockbridge was aborted at half-time after the contest had to be abandoned due to floodlight failure.

“The life and joys of a manager!” joked Arnold. “It took an hour to get there to watch 45 minutes of football. But I saw enough to know Cowes are going to prove a tough nut to crack.”

Arnold names an unchanged squad for the excursion across the Solent as the Potters go in search of a fourth win on the trot.

Potters: (from) Lynch, Evans, Kelly, Delaney, Homer, Dyer, Gajic, Webb, Wrixton, Haskell, Satterley, Anderton, Elysee, Rhodes, Wilson, Shepherd.

• Boss Glenn Burnett says New Milton are “down to the bare bones” for their trip to high-flying Bemerton Heath Harlequins (3pm), while Hamworthy United welcome back Steve Whitcher for the County Ground showdown with Romsey (3pm).

Linnets: (from) Rowe, Case, Donaldson, Barge, Gilkes, Tanner, Moth, Lofters-Desport, Graham, Stuart, Morris.

Hammers: (from) Evans, Wyatt, White, Horlock, Haysom, Lanahan, Pidgley, Stacey, Robinson, Burbidge, Chudy, Basing, Staines, Cannie.