BOSS Tom Killick is refusing to downplay the significance of Poole Town’s crunch clash with fellow National South strugglers Chippenham Town tonight.

The Bluebirds, last season’s Southern League champions, are currently 18th, two places and six points better off than third-from-bottom Dolphins.

Chippenham head to the Black Gold Stadium on the back of a four-match winless run, although they picked up a valuable point from a 1-1 draw with high-flying Braintree on Saturday.

The showdown has been swiftly rearranged having been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch 10 days ago (7.45pm).

“You only have to look at the league table to see the magnitude of the game,” said Killick.

“We can’t afford to get adrift. We have two teams below us and need to claw back at least one other and make sure a gap doesn’t open.”

Poole will be boosted by the return of frontman Marvin Brooks who is back after serving a four-match ban following his sending off against Dartford last month.

Bristol Rovers loan pair Mo Baghdadi and Jordan Williams, signed on the eve of the postponed game, are also available for selection.

Frontman Baghdadi netted seven times during a productive loan spell with Southern Premier League outfit Dorchester earlier this season, while defender Williams, who plays predominantly as a right-back, recently signed a contract extension with Rovers.

Poole triumphed 1-0 when the teams met at Hardenhuish Park in August with Steve Devlin on target for the Dolphins.