RICHARD Hill says there is nothing to be read into Eastleigh’s change of left-back at Salisbury on Tuesday.

After appearing for the Spitfires against Newport County and Oxford United, ex-Saint Dan Harding made way for Aswad Thomas for the 1-1 draw against Steve Claridge’s Whites.

But free agent Harding is still on the Spitfires’ scene and both he and ex-Grimsby and Woking man Thomas could play some part in Saturday's final pre-season test at home to Martin Allen’s newly-promoted Conference champions Barnet (3pm).

Hill said: “I told Dan there was no need to play against Salisbury unless he genuinely wanted to. I didn’t see the point and, silly as it sounds, he probably needed a rest because he’s come from doing nothing (following his release from Nottingham Forest) to training with us.”

Thomas, 25, acquitted himself well on Tuesday but Hill has been up front with the player’s agent and said Harding is his preferred choice.

“A lot depends on Dan,” he said. “Is he my first choice? He’s got to be, hasn’t he?

“I’ve got Aswad’s agent all over me wanting me to make a quick decision, but I won’t. I’ve made it clear Dan is my preference and that’s where we are.

“But I could get a call from Dan at any time saying he’s going to speak to someone else.

“I’ve been aware of Aswad for a while. Jai Reason played with him at Braintee and I was aware of him in his Grimsby days. I thought I’d have a look.

"Last season we had the luxury of Dan Spence switching across from right-back to left-back if we needed him to and now we've got Joe Partington who could do the job quite adequately if needed for a couple of games."

Hill will not be pursuing an interest in either ex-Portsmouth defender Joe Devera or winger/forward Ellis Bellamy – son of Craig - who also featured at Salisbury.

Devera, 28, played for Barnet and Swindon before his two-year contract with Pompey ran out this summer.

"Joe's got one or two other options and, to be fair to him, he asked me if I'd make a quick decision because of other potential interest in him which I fully appreciate because we're only just over a week away from the start of the season," the Spitfires boss explained. "I decided not to pursue it further."

Summer strike signing Ross Lafayette will not be risked on Saturday unless he has fully shaken off a bang on the thigh and Hill will need to manage Michael Green carefully with the left-back having missed the bulk of pre-season with a pulled bottom muscle.

"Greener played a few minutes against Salisbury but we've got to be careful because he's done no pre-season," said the boss.

"He did the first week of pre-season and he's going to do the last week, but he's missed all the hard work in between. If we're not careful we could end up losing him for a long time."