CHERRIES boss Kevin Bond wants his players to stick to their passing principles when they venture into the unknown against non-league Barrow.
Bond's troops face the Blue Square North strugglers at their Holker Street headquarters in a potentially-tricky FA Cup first round tie tomorrow (3pm kick-off).
And with no fewer than three leagues separating the two sides, Cherries are the overwhelming favourites to progress, banking £16,000 in prize money on the way.
But despite the gulf, Bond knows Cherries must be on their mettle in order to avoid writing another unwanted chapter into the club's recent FA Cup history. Under former boss Sean O'Driscoll, Cherries suffered humiliating early exits at the hands of non-league Tamworth (2005) and Accrington Stanley (2003).
Bond said: "I saw Barrow's replay against Farsley Celtic in the last round and they deserved to win. As is often the case, their cup form is miles better than their league form and I would expect them to take that into the game. The FA Cup has always been a great leveller and it will draw us together.
"I am expecting nothing less than a really tough game and it's going to be a very intense affair. Although we are down to the bare bones, I would like to think that if we play like I know we can, we ought to have too much for them.
"But we know we won't be given a lot of time on the ball and will have to compete. When we get the opportunity to get the ball down and play, we have to make sure we do that because if we have an edge, that's where we are likely to have it so we have to make it tell."
Bond's resources for the trek to Cumbria have been decimated by injury, unavailability and suspension with Darren Anderton nursing a hamstring strain, Lee Bradbury banned and Reading loan stars James Henry and Alex Pearce ineligible, while Adam Lallana's inclusion is still in the balance.
Speaking following training yesterday, Bond said: "As things stand, we've got 11 first-team players available and will probably have youth team lads and Rob Newman on the bench. That's what we will go with unless something happens between now and kick off.
"I would like to bring in somebody to strengthen us up front, given that we're going to be without Lee for three games and Sam Vokes will be missing against Hartlepool next week due to a Wales under-21 call-up. If I could identify somebody and they fit in with what I need, then I would look to do it.
"Adam has gone back to Southampton but we are talking to them about the possibility of bringing him back. I'm waiting to hear back from them but I have had to plan without him."
Vokes, Shaun Cooper, Brett Pitman and Jason Pearce all look set to start, while Marvin Bartley has an outside chance of making the bench. Bond must also select a stand-in skipper, with Paul Telfer, Josh Gowling and Neil Moss all in the frame.
Cherries: (from) Moss, Telfer, Gowling, J Pearce, Golbourne, Pitman, Karacan, Cooper, Hollands, Kuffour, Vokes, McQuoid, Franks, Partington, Newman, Stewart.
Barrow: (from) Deasy, Woodyatt, Butler, McNulty, Bayliss, Henney, Sheridan, Bond, Thompson, Rapley, Rogan, Wilson, Jones, Elderton, Brown, Archer.
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