BROTHERLY love will go out of the window tomorrow as Wayne Thorne is desperate to get one over his older brother and help the Bluebirds fight their way to a much needed three points at Merthyr Tydfil.

The defender could return to the starting line up after missing the last four games and is unfazed at the prospect of coming up against older brother, Gary, who plays for their Welsh opponents.

He said: "I have played against my brother loads of times and every time it gets hyped up.

"But for 90 minutes he is the opposition and I will treat him like that and will not let up because he is family.

"After the game I am sure we will have a drink but for the match we will be desperate for the three points."

The two sides drew 3-3 earlier in the season at Hardenhuish in an exciting match that saw Merthyr equalise in the dying seconds.

Thorne remembers the match well, especially the part his older brother played.

"He scored two own goals for us," he said. "I will be asking him before the game to do us another favour but I can't see him doing it again.

"Tommy Saunders wanted him to come here at the start of the season but he decided to stay in Wales and he loves it there.

"I just hope it is me at the end of the game that is celebrating because we really need the points."

An ankle injury has forced Thorne to watch Chippenham's slide to rock bottom in the Dr Martens League and he admits it is time to get nasty.

He said: "We are in a hole and we need to start fighting people and having a scrap with people.

"We are not doing that at the moment and it is the only way we are going to start picking up points.

"It is time to begin grinding out results and earning the right to play football."

In September, Chippenham came back from 2-0 to go 3-2 up against Merthyr but a last minute penalty and red card for Charlie Griffin meant the teams had to settle for a share of the points.

Thorne believes it is that fighting spirit that they will need to show again if results are to improve.

He said: "They are a Welsh team and so will definitely be up for the match and will be scrapping for points themselves.

"We could have got three points against them last time but that's gone now. It is a nice place to play although they haven't got the nicest of supporters.

"We would even take a draw but it is important that we do pick up points away from home because we are not doing it at Hardenhuish at the moment.

He continued: "Obviously we have been struggling with a number of injuries but it doesn't matter what players we have if we don't do the basics.

"We have got to work hard first of all as we could have the best players in the world playing for us but if you are not working it is not going to happen."

One thing is for sure the sight

of a fit Wayne Thorne biting into a 50-50 challenge will be a welcome relief to many of the Hardenhuish faithful.