Salisbury City are newcomers to the Southern Premier Division this season, but manager Nick Holmes is backing Paul Sales and Matt Tubbs to emerge as one of the best frontline pairings in the league.

Sales, a summer signing from Eastleigh, scored twice on his first full 90 minutes for the Whites at home to Cirencester on Tuesday, while Tubbs - a former Bolton Wanderers youngster - netted a superbly struck free kick.

"Matt has been very lively this season and what you hope is that he and Paul will blend together and be the best partnership in the league," said Holmes, below. "They're certainly a skilful pair. Both of them are technically above average for this standard."

After undergoing a summer knee operation, Sales is not yet 100 per cent fit and Holmes's big frustration is that he's had scant opportunity to work with him on the training pitch.

"We could do with a midweek break, but matches are coming thick and fast and all Paul's doing at the moment is playing games," he said. "Quite often we rest him for Thursday training because his knee's a bit sore."

Southampton-based Sales picked up a slight thigh strain in the 3-0 win over Cirencester, but Holmes hopes he will be fit for tomorrow's trip to table-topping Bath City.

Left-winger Shaun Hale (calf) is still out of contention, but midfielder Wayne Turk had his first start on Tuesday after recovering from a knee injury and came through 70 minutes unscathed.

Holmes will be looking for another big performance from his central defensive pairing of Tim Bond and Aaron Cook, who were outstanding against Cirencester.

Unbeaten Whites are fourth and Holmes was overjoyed with Tuesday's result, saying: "Cirencester are an excellent footballing side.

"I'd be very surprised if they don't finish in the top five.

"It's so important to beat clubs like that."

Bath City's 100 per cent start slipped with a 1-1 draw at Yate, who had lost their opening three games, on Tuesday.

Their dangerman is ex-Bristol City and Torquay forward Scott Partridge, who has already struck four times this term.