Chickerell will welcome back Grant Chance and Scott Walker for this evening’s clash against Bridport Reserves at St Mary’s Field (7.45pm).

The duo missed Saturday’s 2-1 win over Blandford United and stand-in boss Terry Oldrid is delighted they are back as it will allow him to call the shots from the sidelines.

Oldrid, who is deputising for Chris Wilson, said: “We will probably reshuffle the formation with at least one out of the two coming straight in from the start.

“Both Grant and Scott will add strength to the team and it will also enable me to bark orders from the dugout, which I could not do on Saturday as I was playing.”

Another significant addition to the Chickens’ squad will be Mick Coombs, who will assist Oldrid.

“Mick has a great deal of knowledge about the club and will no doubt be a great help,” said Oldrid. “He is also registered as a player and could feature if we need him to.”

Although the Chickens will be strengthened for this Magna Dorset Premier League encounter, Oldrid is fully aware of the test that Bridport will pose.

He said: “I am expecting a very tough workout. They beat Poole Borough at the weekend and we will have to be at our best if we are to come away with something. I will be expecting another battling performance from the lads.”

Meanwhile, the Bees welcome back defender Sam Day from suspension and have added Adam Lloyd to the squad that claimed a morale-boosting victory over Poole.

Now that they have set a high benchmark, joint-boss Steve Crabb is asking his charges to match it with another impressive showing against last season’s runners-up.

He said: “If the guys put in the same effort as they did on Saturday then that’s all I can ask. It’s up to us to produce that sort of performance on a regular basis this season.

“I imagine the game will be similar to the one against Poole. Chickerell will be happy to have got off to a winning start and they are in the same situation as us.

“They lost a lot of players in the summer but gained a few as well and have a new manager. If we go into the game with the same frame of mind that we had against Poole we won’t go far wrong.”

Bees (from): Cleal, Stordy, A Clarke, Hill, Jones, Herbst, Cummings, McAllister, Moss, Steele, Peart, B Clarke, Gale, C Symes, Day, Lloyd.

Chickens (from): Bickerstaff, Burton, Williams, Oldrid, Oliver, A Skelton, B Skelton, Roper, Kenderdine, Carlile, Maxted, Robinson, Walbridge, Walker, Chance, Coombs.