SEAN O'Driscoll has identified the change in prolific striker James Hayter this season - he keeps playing him up front.

Hayter goes into Saturday's Coca-Cola League One fixture with Barnsley (Fitness First Stadium, 3pm kick-off) in a rich vein of form after his two goals against Cardiff on Tuesday saw him become the leading goalscorer in domestic competitions this season.

His Carling Cup brace moved him on to 13 for the season with eight goals in his last eight games and four strikes in his last two.

O'Driscoll, however, believes there is no great science in his marksman standing just one short of his entire season's haul for last term.

He said: "He has played up front - that is the biggest difference.

"In previous seasons he has filled in wide right, wide left and in central midfield because we know with our small squad, we need to be flexible.

"But we have made a conscious effort to keep him up front this season."

The unassuming 25-year-old, whose record-breaking 140 second hat-trick catapulted him to national and international recognition last season, is the type of player that is happy to fill in regardless of the position he is asked to play by O'Driscoll.

The Cherries boss said: "I know I can trust him to play in a variety of positions. He is an intelligent player and even defending corners you know he'll know where to go and you can leave it up to him.

"But since I have known him, he has always been a top goalscorer going back to the under-16s and the youth team.

"He has missed a few chances as well so far this season but you have to be in a position to miss them and thankfully he has scored a few as well."

Asked if he thought the club may be fending off the vultures from higher divisions for the striker's services in the near future, O'Driscoll replied: "I don't know. He has been playing really well for us for the past two or three seasons but people see different things in different players.

"He is not 6ft4 and he's not powerfully built but he is a very good finisher.

"We like him for what he does and we try to play to his strengths as best as we can."

Hayter currently leads the rest of the country's top guns in the goalscoring charts with Wigan's Nathan Ellington and Leyton Orient's Lee Steele his nearest challengers on 11. The Premiership's top scorer, Arsenal's Thierry Henry, has nine.

Meanwhile, O'Driscoll is expected to keep faith with the same side who started the Carling Cup thriller on Tuesday if the usual "bumps and bruises" heal in time. He said: "They were a tired bunch of players after the game but hopefully everyone will recover in time.

"Fletch is a bit stiff and sore but he played really well on Tuesday night and I'm sure he is itching to start again.

"We have got few bumps and bruises so will make sure they get their rest and be mentally and physically right for Barnsley."

Dani Rodrigues (hamstring), Jason Tindall (knee), Warren Cummings and Steve Purches (both ankle) will not be in the squad while Karl Broadhurst is expected to shake off a minor groin problem.

Barnsley meanwhile failed in a bid to take Wigan's Tony Dinning on loan this week but secured Newcastle's England under-21 striker Michael Chopra on loan for another month.

Cherries: Moss, Broadhurst, Maher, Howe, Young, Elliott, Spicer, Stock, O'Connor, Hayter, Fletcher, Stewart, Holmes, Browning, Connell, Coutts, Rowe.

Barnsley: Turnbull, Hassell, Tom Williams, Reid, Tonge, Wroe, Shuker, Robbie Williams, Chopra, Conlon, Nardiello, Colgan, Onibuje, Heslop. Vaughan, Kay, Carbon.