STEVE Claridge has spent his career putting fear up opposition defenders but ahead of Chippenham's trip to Weymouth tomorrow Wayne Thorne insists he will not be intimidated.

Claridge is now the player-manager for the seasiders and his goals this season have helped lift his side to second place in the Dr Martens Premier League.

The last time the two sides met was in September when two superb curling efforts by Claridge were the difference between the teams in Weymouth's 3-1 win.

Thorne was one of the defenders made to look silly that day and the Chippenham defender is determined to make sure that does not happen again.

He said: "He was different class that match and definitely won the match for them.

"Without Claridge the result could have been different.

"But we have got to forget about that and concentrate on ourselves. He is only one player.

"Hopefully we have learnt something from last time and will be able to stop him from having such an effect again."

Claridge has enjoyed an illustrious professional career including spells at Leicester City, Birmingham City, Millwall and Portsmouth and has built himself a reputation of being a hard working, no-nonsense striker.

Thorne is fully expecting to feel the presence of Claridge early in the game but the tough tackling defender will not be shirking a physical battle.

He said: "At the end of the day Claridge is now playing in the same league as us.

"Why should we worry about him? He has done some great things in his career but he is now at Weymouth and as far as I am concerned is just another opponent.

"He has been known to put himself about but he is not the only one who likes a tackle. He won't be getting it all his own way."

Chippenham travel to Weymouth tomorrow in 17th position and are in the middle of a fierce battle for a place in the Conference Two next season.

Saturday's draw with Dover has left them six points off an automatic promotion and inside the play-off zone on goal difference ahead of Havant and Waterlooville and Grantham.

"We have got three hard games coming up," said Thorne.

"Weymouth away, Bath at home and Worcester away and obviously we have to be looking at getting results in them all.

"We said after Saturday's match that because of the conditions we could be counting that as a point gained come the end of the season.

"Hopefully we can use Saturday's result and kick on from there.

"We are capable of getting a good run together and we just need to do that.

"Weymouth want points as much as we do but we will go there full of confidence and knowing exactly what we need to do."