MARK Collier has urged his Swindon Supermarine players to beware of the wounded beast as resurgent Halesowen visit the Webb’s Wood Stadium tonight.

Once a major player in non-league football, and one of the oldest clubs in the country, Halesowen endured two of years of torment between 2008 and 2010 after financial turmoil saw them enter administration and fall into the Southern League.

Several players left the Yeltz, whilst attendance figures fell proportionately, and the proud old side now have a relegation battle to deal with as they make the trip to Collier’s in-form Marine.

But the South Marston outfit’s manager is in no mood to dish out sympathy on the field tonight, and he has told his squad “It’s all the old cliches about taking one game at a time,” he said.

“I haven’t seen Halesowen personally, we’ve had two reports and they were very different in each.

“They had very different sides out, there were something like seven different players in each game. So from that point of view it’s quite difficult to really see what they’re like.

“Obviously they’ve gone from playing in front of eight or nine hundred and they are a big club low down in the league.

“A lot of the players who left are starting to come back and they are starting to improve.

“It will be a tough game, I’m sure, but one that we will fancy to go out and win.”

The clash presents Collier with a chance to include recent recruits Joe Harris and John Beeden in his matchday squad.

Beeden returned to Marine after a spell locally at Wootton Bassett Town, whilst Harris has come back to the club after time in Australia.

And Collier is excited to have a player with a distinct eye for goal on board as his team head into the most hectic two months of the campaign.

“In January and February we’ve got pretty much two games every week,” he said.

“That is fine because we usually train twice a week, but it’s good to have Joe in.

“I think he was the club’s top scorer before he left but he’s back and he has international clearance so he’ll be in the squad.”

A place in the Southern League play-offs is not outside of Marine’s reach as they look to build on Saturday’s 3-0 win against Banbury.

Having played only 18 matches so far this term due to cup commitments, Collier’s troops have it all to play for in 2011.

But the boss preferred to edge towards cautious optimism when looking longer term than tonight’s match.

“There are big teams in the mix like Salisbury and Truro,” he said.

“We have to keep on our own game and keep producing the results and it will come.”

Matt Robinson will be available for selection this evening after missing the Banbury fixture because of work commitments, but Marine are sweating on the fitness of captain Leigh Henry, who suffered a hamstring strain at the weekend.

Meanwhile Highworth Town clinched a 2-1 win away at Wantage in the Hellenic League Premier Division last night.

On target for Dave Webb’s men wasJames Guthrie and Richie Saunders.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Shrivenham went down 1-0 at Bracknell Town while in the Wiltshire Senior Cup, Malmesbury Vics lost 7-0 at home to Bradford Town.