Lymington & New Milton face a fight to hold on to two of their most gifted players ahead of their big FA Cup clash at home to Glenn Cockerill's Woking on Saturday week (October 30).

Although the joy of the weekend's 1-0 giant-killing at Merthyr Tydfil shows no sign of subsiding, manager Ian Robinson admits approaches for the silky-skilled Ben Thomson and Saturday's match-winner Jimmy Anderson have "left a bit of a bad smell hanging around the place."

Thomson, who has previously played higher with Bashley and Newport IoW, is interesting Con-ference South outfit Basingstoke Town, while Linnets' ambitious Wessex Division 2 neighbours Lymington Town are hoping to lure Anderson to Southampton Road.

Midfielder Anderson has been nominated for the FA's prestigious player-of-the round award for his late header at Merthyr (vote on www.TheFA.com), which powered Linnets into fourth qualifying round for the second season running.

Robinson would dearly love to keep hold of both players but shrugged: "It's all part of being a successful side - unfortunately the club's not in a position to nail everyone down on contract.

"A few of the youngsters are on contract but some of the older one's aren't and they're going to be cherry-picked. It's a cross we have to bear."

Two Lymington players who will definitely miss the visit of Cockerill's Conference side are suspended duo Jimmy Sheppard and Michael Jackson, who have each accrued five bookings.

Although skipper Sheppard was disciplined by the club for his reaction to being sent off against Chippenham in the second qualifying round, the veteran midfielder/defender remains the heartbeat of the Lymington side.

Robinson said: "Jimmy's 39 now and he said when we played Salisbury last year that it was probably his last big chance to get into the first round proper.

"The opportunity's still there, but he can't help us."

Salisbury, who landed a plum first round trip to Sheffield Wednesday after ousting the Linnets last season, are back on the march again after Satur- day's excellent 3-1 slaying of Conference South outfit Weston-super-Mare.

Whites must now hit the road again to Ryman Premier rivals Slough Town but newly-appointed assistant manager Barry Blankley said: "I honestly didn't mind home or away. If we perform like we did on Saturday, we'll play anyone anywhere!"

First up for Salisbury is an important league trip to Hampton & Richmond Borough tonight. Despite their Cup heroics, Whites are fifth to bottom and Blankley reminded his troops: "The league's our bread and butter and tonight's the real test."

Glenn Howes, Scott Bartlett and Mark Lisk are all still injured, but Adam Wallace and Steve Strong return from suspension.

FA Cup, fourth qualifying round (Southern section): Billericay v Flackwell Heath, Barnet v Farnborough, Weymouth or Thame Utd v Forest Green Rovers, Canvey Island v Hallen, Lymington & New Milton v Woking, Dagenham & Redbridge v Crawley, Hornchurch v Gravesend & Northfleet, Exeter City v Braintree, Slough v Salisbury City, Bath v Leatherhead, Aldershot v Maidenhead, Hayes v Ashford Town (Middlesex), Thurrock v Spalding, Stevenage Borough v Leyton or Hendon, Tiverton Town or Eastleigh v North Leigh or Newport County, Wealdstone v Histon, Sutton Utd or Bromley v Cambridge City, Bognor Regis v Yeading.