GARY Bailey is determined for his Portland United side not to be the first to blink in their quest for Wessex League success this term.

The island outfit, who host Amesbury Town in a re-arranged clash at Grove Corner this evening (7.45pm), currently occupy third spot in the division, five points behind table-topping Moneyfields.

But, with the league leaders likely to have three points deducted after fielding then new signing Ashley Howes when he was suspended back in January, the race for the title could be blown wide open.

Bailey insists that his side cannot influence any other outcomes other than their own results, and, having won a whopping 13 league games on the spin, is keen to keep his own house in order.

He told Echosport: “If we want to stay up there and stay in with a realistic chance of the top couple of places, there is no let up.

“We are on a great run, as are Moneyfields and Blackfield & Langley. We are going like for like and we don’t want to be the first team to blink.

"The motivation is to make sure we look after ourselves and what will be will be.”

Ryan McKechnie is set to return for the Blues’ tonight after being called into the squad for the Royal Navy at the weekend.

Ed Bastick (ankle) and Jamie Beasley (knee) are both set to be assessed after picking up knocks. Alex Halloran is set to undergo a fitness test.