BAT go into tomorrow's home game against Fareham Town with another age-defying ex-Saint preparing to climb on board.

Defender Steve Baker, whose decade at The Dell began back in 1978, is coming out of retirement to sign for the Southern Gardens side.

At the age of 40, Baker will be one of the elder statesmen of the Jewson Wessex League - but he won't be the senior member of the Tobaccomen's squad.

That distinction belongs to his former Saints buddy, Dave Puckett, who is still running round like a teenager a fortnight ahead of his 42nd birthday.

As a youngster, 38-year-old BAT boss Andy Leader was on Crystal Palace and Reading's books, after which he carved out a decent non-League career with clubs like Wokingham, Marlow, Newport IoW and Salisbury.

But, apart from the occasional appearance off the bench, his playing days are over and he can only admire the way Puckett and Baker have kept themselves in shape.

He said: "The difference is that whereas I spent six years as a pro, these lads played professionally for so much longer and have looked after their bodies better. That's why they can still play at their age."

Baker who, like Puckett, coaches at the Saints Academy, hung up his boots at the end of last season after rupturing his Achilles playing Ryman Premier football for Basingstoke Town.

Leader said: "He's getting itchy feet to play again and, as he's a big mate of Pucks, he says he'd like to join us."

BAT's plans to sign ex-Fleet striker John Smith look to have fallen through because it's too much travelling from his Bracknell home, but Leader is confident that frontman Scott Ferguson is staying put despite interest from Wessex rivals Hamble ASSC.

Ex-Wimborne 'keeper Steve Shergold has signed for the Tobaccomen, but Leader is confident Gareth Barfoot will be fit to face Fareham.

Brockenhurst are in the grip of an injury-crisis ahead of tomorrow's visit of Hamble ASSC.

Former Bashley defender Andy Culliford will be back from holiday, but that's about the only good news for manager Pete Moore whose absentees run into double figures.

Andy Gater and James Wood are suspended and several more are injured - most of them seriously.

Highly-rated frontman Richard Glenister has a cruciate knee ligament problem, while both Ali Simpson and Robbie Harbut are awaiting operations for cruciate, medial, cartilage and hamstring damage.

Tony Avery has been out for five weeks with ankle ligament trouble, while knee ligament victim Carlo Tate hasn't played since pre-season.

"I recently counted 13 or 14 players unavailable, half of whom were automatic first-choice players," groaned Moore.

Midfielder Jimmy Anderson, sold by Brock to Eastleigh this week, is expected to make his debut for his new club against Blackfield & Langley at Ten Acres.