Newport boss Steve Tate reckons he has just the man to get under Eastleigh's skin in the Hampshire Senior Cup third round at Ten Acres tonight (7.30pm).

Abrasive, new frontline signing Stuart Cannie scored on his debut against Ashford last Saturday and his rough edges could well rub Eastleigh up the wrong way as they bid to make it three home wins out of three against the Islanders this season.

Cannie was thrown out of Wimborne for his poor disciplinary record and Tate said: "He's going to be a pain in the backside for a lot of reputations at this level.

"He doesn't care who he's up ag- ainst. He upsets everyone."

If ever there was a time for Tate & Co. to reap revenge on Eastleigh, it's tonight. The Sparshatts Stadium outfit are on a rocky run of three straight league and cup defeats, which has seen them ship 11 goals.

It's a rare low point for a club who have been feasting on the good times since the Paul Doswell revolution began in the summer of 2002 and the manager confessed: "I'm sure everyone else is gleeful to see us losing, but sometimes you have to go through these downs to appreciate the ups.

"The fact is we're not used to losing and this is where the likes of myself, David Hughes and Mark Dennis earn our corn getting the players to believe in themselves again."

Eastleigh welcome defender Danny Rofe back from suspension to face his old club tonight and Newport pair Danny Hatcher and Glenn Howes also return from bans.

Island right-back Ian Buckman is in the frame after injury but player/assistant Taffy Richardson - red-carded against Ashford - sits out a one-match suspension for five bookings.

l Salisbury City, home to Erith & Belvedere in the Dr Martens Eastern Division tonight (7.45pm), have not given up hope of capturing Bashley skipper Aaron Cook.

The Wiltshire club have had a £4,000 offer for Cook turned down, but manager Nick Holmes confirmed: "We're still looking hopefully at Aaron - plus a couple of other players."

Whites have injury doubts over Michael Cooper (knee), Scott Bartlett (broken hand), Stuart James (groin) and Andy Cook (knee).