A recent loan spell at non-leaguers Torquay has helped young Saints keeper Michael Poke to cope with the harsh realities and pressures of a Championship relegation dogfight.

The 22-year-old made his Saints debut - after 13 years' association with the club - as a half-time sub for dislocated finger victim Kelvin Davis in Tuesday's dramatic 2-2 draw at Wolves.

It was Poke's first-ever Football League appearance - his only previous first team experience were loan spells at Torquay a few weeks ago, Woking last season, and two games in the Football League Trophy with Northampton in 2005.

But the last virtual unknown to be thrown into the Saints goal for a league match is confident Poke will cope if asked to start this weekend's clash at Blackpool.

Veteran Kevin Miller was thrust into the Saints team by George Burley two years ago this month with the club in danger of being sucked into a relegation dogfight.

Burley dropped Paul Smith and brought in the much-travelled Miller just a few weeks after bringing him back into the league.

Miller, then 37, had been selling advertising space for a Surrey company but played his part in Saints finishing 2005/06 with five wins and a draw in their last seven games.

Miller said: "Playing for Torquay would have helped Pokey a lot.

"The Conference is a tough league for goalkeepers - the strikers there won't think twice about clattering you as you come for a cross.

"It's a different world to the Championship - but it would have done Pokey good to go to a place where your boots aren't always cleaned for you, your kit isn't always laid out for you, and there's not nice food waiting for you after training.

"It's good for a young kid to sample something like that."

Poke played six times for the Devonians in late January and February. He conceded just one goal - on his debut in an FA Trophy tie at AFC Wimbledon - during his nine hours in between the posts for the Gulls.

Poke agreed with Miller.

"It's stood me in good stead," he told the Daily Echo. "It was a good club to be at and it's a physical league, like this one, and I had quite a lot to do."

For full story see today's Daily Echo.