DAN Seaborne is relishing his face-off with Lee Barnard and knows his Saints team-mate will be spoiling to put a dent in Cherries’ promotion hopes.

Defender Seaborne is expected to be tasked with keeping tabs on Barnard when Cherries meet League One strugglers Oldham tomorrow.

Barnard, who netted four times in 15 appearances for Cherries earlier this season, joined the Latics on loan in January and scored twice in his first two games.

The 28-year-old striker, who played alongside Seaborne as Saints won back-to-back promotions, is likely to be partnered by experienced campaigner Chris Iwelumo.

Seaborne said: “Barney is a great lad and I know he was popular with the players when he was here.

“I have had some great times with him at Southampton and he is a really good player who has been unfortunate with injuries.

“He is a proven goalscorer, a good finisher and a tough competitor, whether it is in a game or a training session.

“His all-round game is very tidy and he is a clever player who has scored a lot of goals throughout his career.

“He will link well with whoever he plays with and it will be a really good test for us.

“If we defend like we did against Stevenage and keep a good line, I am sure we will be okay.

“Our line is important and it wasn’t great for the four or five games before Stevenage. ”

Seaborne, who climbed from the Conference to the Premier League after winning no fewer than four promotions in five seasons with Exeter and Saints, is hoping to add another memorable chapter to his memoirs with Cherries.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a fruitful start to his loan spell at Dean Court as Cherries maintained their long unbeaten run before victory at Stevenage in midweek halted an alarming run of five successive defeats.

“The win had been coming,” added Seaborne. “We had been playing well in patches but results hadn’t gone for us and we weren’t getting the rub of the green.

“I had my ups and downs during the games we lost and, as a defensive unit, we weren’t as one because we were conceding goals.

“That is why the clean sheet was massive for us and, as a defender, I don’t think there is anything better than winning 1-0.”

Both Seaborne and Barnard are out of contract at St Mary’s this summer, having both been signed by Alan Pardew in January 2010.