PORTLAND United manager, Brendon King, said all his players “must be on it” if they are to beat holders Poole Town in their Dorset Senior Cup clash tonight at the Weyline Stadium (7:45pm).

Speaking to Echosport, King said: “They are a decent side. They are a couple of leagues above us. They didn’t play on Saturday and don’t have a game this Saturday so they will probably bring their full first team.

“If they played on Saturday, and had a game this Saturday, they may have rested a few players, but they will want to keep their players ticking over.

“We are going to be playing against a really good side. They are in a decent position in their league and looking to get promotion.

“It is another good test for us. I think our players want to play against the better teams and we raise our game a bit when we do.

“I am looking forward to it. It is better than a training session. Hopefully the weather holds off and we can have a good game.”

Portland come into the fixture off the back of a four-game unbeaten run, last losing against Exmouth in the FA Vase. Poole Town, on the other hand, have failed to win in their last four matches, but are the current champions of this competition.

King commented: “I don’t think form matters. They have had a couple of dodgy results, but they have some very good players.

“This is probably something that they will want to win again. They are a club that are used to winning things.

“Form, when you are a side that are two leagues above, is irrelevant.”

Speaking about what is needed from his team to have a chance, King said: “If we are resolute and we work hard we have a chance.

“We need to do the things we have been trying to instil into the players.

“Everybody has got to be on their game when you play a team in a higher league.

“You have got to be on it. If you get two or three players who are not, it will be really tough.

“First and foremost, we have to be set up so we are hard to beat. When we have got the ball, we have players who can cause Poole problems.”

Portland were scheduled to play Tadley Calleva on Saturday, but the horrible weather meant the game had to be postponed.

“I was not too bothered about it being called off,” King said. “Playing in conditions like that is not enjoyable for players and people watching.

“Games do get called off at our level, we can’t do anything about the weather. It is what it is, we just have to get on with it.”