WINCHESTER City are aiming for their first double of the season at Salisbury tonight.

City lost 2-0 at Salisbury three weeks ago in the second round of the league cup but recorded their first win of the season when they beat last year’s Wessex champions 4-2 at Abbotts Barton back in August.

Now they are preparing for another cathedral derby in the Southern One South & West.

Winchester striker Robbie Matthews will be determined to prove a point after his acrimonious departure from the Ray Mac in September.

The veteran striker had a public fall-out with Salisbury manager Steve Claridge over the terms of his new deal after playing regularly during last season’s promotion-winning campaign.

City manager Ian Saunders said: “Robbie’s been excellent since he’s been here and is still very well liked there.

“What went in the paper regarding his departure was probably blown out of promotion.

“The boys will enjoy going to Salisbury, it’s always a great place to visit.

“We’re used to playing in front of 150 but the crowd will probably be over 500. It’s a proper stadium and it will be good to pit my wits against Steve.”

Winchester are aiming to build on their encouraging performance in Saturday’s 1-0 FA Trophy loss against Dulwich Hamlet.

“We can go to Salisbury full of confidence,” Saunders added.

“We’ve beaten them in the league and I’d like to get our first double.”

Winchester defender Jamie Ford returns from suspension, but Dan Simmonds and Jason Silver are still out and experienced midfielder Danny Smith limped out of Saturday’s game with a calf tweak.

“Danny has been excellent since he came back but it gives an opportunity to someone else and Fordy will make us stronger at the back,” said Saunders.

Salisbury are eighth, six points off the play-off positions, after a second defeat in three league games on Saturday, 3-2 at Evesham.

Claridge has made two signings recently.

Winger Mason Walsh, son of former Liverpool star Paul Walsh, made an impressive debut in Salisbury’s last home game, a 5-2 thumping of Tiverton.

Claridge also signed midfielder Chris Onoufriou from Wessex Premier outfit Andover Town last week.

Born in Southampton, Onoufriou is a third-year physio student at University of Southampton.

He played as a pro for Cypriot side AC Omonia after being at AFC Bournemouth for six years.