Davis Haule is likely to be restored to Wealdstone's starting line-up for Saturday's trip tp Ramsgate.

The experienced 32-year-old striker was forbidden to face his parent side, Staines Town, in Tuesday's Ryman League Cup defeat but is almost certain to come back into the fold on Saturday in a bid to add to his two goals in six Stones appearances to date.

Staines have agreed to extend his loan stay at Grosovenor Vale to a third and final month and he could become a permanent fixture if Stones boss Gordon Bartlett gets his way.

"It is something that we will contemplate at the end of this third month," said Bartlett when asked if he wants to keep Haule, a player he initially tried to sign a decade ago. "After that it is all or nothing. We could take him on a long term loan, season long loan or it could be a transfer.

"He is a good player and we don't want to lose him. He has a good footballing brain, has excellent technique and while he will be the first to admit he is not as sharp as he used to be, we are very pleased with his contribution.

"He is not a natural goalscorer, although he will get you goals, but he is very unselfish and he has settled in well here."

Bartlett ran the rule over another striker, trialist Ian Hilaire, during a practice match with Hillingdon Borough on Saturday after their Ryman Premier clash with Billericay Town was frozen off.

Hilaire, who has seen service at Mar-gate, Potters Bar, Harrow Borough and St Albans City, was on the scoresheet in the 12-0 triumph at Hillingdon's state-ofthe-art artificial pitch.

Danny Spendlove (3), Lee Chappell (2), Ryan Ashe, Kieron Forbes, Haule, David Hicks, Greg Ngoyi and Joe Stevens completed the scoring.

"We showed a little bit of foresight and the match gave18 to 19 players a minimum of 45 minutes," added Bartlett. "It was a glorified training session and a useful one.

"As for Ian, things did not work out for him at Hitchin and he came in on Saturday and scored for us. But he still did not do enough and he will train again with us tonight (Thursday)."

Bartlett is expecting a tough test against the Rams this weekend and the likes of Haule, James Gray and Alan Massey will need to exert their physicall prowess if Stones are to prevail.

Aaron Firth's late winner condemned Bartlett's men to their first home defeat of the season in the reverse fixture, a loss which triggered a four match winless run at the Vale.

"The league is the most important thing," he commented. "It is always difficult down at Ramsgate. They are a strong, physical side and we will have our work cut out.

"They scored in the last minute to beat us at home earlier this season, so I want to put the record straight."

One bonus for Stones is the absence of Rams top scorer Mo Takalobighashi, who was released by the club earlier this season.

* Wealdstone have announced that the half price admission offer for the postponed Billericay match will now apply to the next home game against Hendon on Saturday, January 24. Ticket stubs distributed at the Harrow Borough match must be produced at the turnstiles.