DORCHESTER Town are wary of the “wounded animal” that is Salisbury going into their battle at the Avenue Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Salisbury have struggled since the decision to sack boss Steve Claridge.

Brian Dutton’s Whites have slipped from fifth to tenth in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South courtesy of two losses and a draw since he was appointed manager.

However, Salisbury possess National League experience in Brandon Goodship, Ben Thomson, Gerard Benfield and Calvin Brooks.

Goodship and Brooks also spent time at Dorchester in their formative years and Salisbury can also count on former Magpies in Antonio Diaz, Charlie Davis, Devon Arnold and Josh Wakefield.

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And Dorchester goalkeeping coach Steve Dodge warned of Salisbury’s quality – despite their downturn in form.

He told Echosport: “We shan’t be taking anything for granted against Salisbury. It’s a bit of a derby, there’s a few ex-players of ours they’ve got.

“It’s always a tough game against them. They’re a bit of a wounded animal at the moment as well, so we have to be careful about that.

“We do want to make the Avenue a fortress and we don’t want teams to come and enjoy playing us.

“Salisbury bring a good following as well and it’s a game we always look forward to. It’s one of the first I look at, when we’ve got Salisbury at home.

“It’s a game both sides enjoy.”

Dorchester have built 2-0 leads in their past two games, taking four points, including an impressive 3-1 win at Merthyr.

Dodge added: “It was important, we had to get something from the game after the disappointment of Saturday.

“That’s part of the journey we’re on, that we’re disappointed with getting a point at Gosport.

“The league’s very tight as well. A win is very important, it takes us up the league quite nicely and it’s important to keep the momentum going.”

Striker Shaq Gwengwe has suffered another setback with his ankle injury, tweaking it again in training last Thursday.

He is a doubt but Dorchester’s centre-back Keith Emmerson is in contention after missing the trip to Merthyr in midweek.

First-team coach Brian Churchill could also return after illness kept him out of the dugout for Tuesday’s match.