THEY say the old ones are the best ones and that certainly seems to be the case where Brockenhurst's frontline warrior Jason Lovell is concerned.

Despite all the young talent on show, it was the 37-year-old marksman that Badgers' FA Cup opponents Lewes identified as the dangerman when they spied on Brock in Tuesday's 1-1 Wessex League draw with Fareham at Grigg Lane.

Player-manager Graham Kemp smiled: "There is life in the old dog yet!

"Lewes know of Jason from his time at Havant and his reputation goes before him.

"When people see his name on the teamsheet, you hear them say: 'Oh no, Jason Lovell - that's all I need.'

"Defenders know they can't afford to stand off him, no matter how old he is. They know that if they take an extra touch then he'll be in having a go at them.

"He's our talisman. With Jase, you know what you are getting every week.

"He never has a nightmare and he leads by example.

"He does up front what I do in defence by battling, working and talking."

Although Lewes, fifth in the Conference South, start as hot favourites at The Dripping Pan tomorrow, Kemp knows his Wessex underdogs can always be a threat with someone like Lovell in the side.

He said: "Obviously, if Jase plays a blinder and we all have nightmares, we'll get done by five, six or seven, but if we can get the ball to Jase in the box, who knows what could happen?

"He's fired up in any case because he read a quote from me in the Echo saying I'd bet my house on Lee Winsall scoring more goals than him this season. He keeps coming up to me and saying: 'I want your house, Kempy!' "

Young midfielder Dan Marks, scorer of Tues-day's equaliser against Fareham, is doubtful tomorrow with a dead leg.

l Basingstoke Town will face some familiar foe when Wessex League high-fliers AFC Newbury come calling at the Camrose Ground.

Guy Whittingham's Berkshire visitors in-clude four ex-Stoke players in their squad - Lee Chudy, David Asker, Guy Roberts and Ashley Vine.

Stoke boss Ernie Howe's main concern is the fitness of Argentinian duo Sergio Torres and Cristian Levis.

Both have missed the last two Conference South games with hamstring trouble and Howe reckons it's no coincidence that, after a magnificent start to the season, Stoke have dropped five of their last six points in the absence of their South American gems.

He said: "Sergio and Cristian are quality players and I don't care who you are, it affects any side if that sort of quality's missing.

"When we needed to produce something out of nothing in last week's 1-0 home defeat by Carshal-ton, it didn't happen.

"But we bounced back well after losing 6-0 at Hornchurch and I'm looking for the same response tomorrow."