The pitch at Barrow AFC has had some extra time to recover ahead of tonight's match against Dover Athletic, with defender Sam Hird believing the recent rain could help his side's style of play.

The surface has drained well from the waterlogged state last Friday that forced the match against Dagenham & Redbridge to be postponed 24 hours in advance.

When the Whites make the long journey to Cumbria, it should still be a in a better state than at the start of the Bluebirds' last home game, against Torquay United, when it was dry and bobbly and the ball didn't run true over it.

Hird said: "I think the rain helped in that game - it just gave the ball that extra zip and that just helped us because that's our style and identity.

"I think it was noticeable in the Torquay match how much it helped us after the rain came."

The match against Dover could be a first outing for striker Jamie Soule after he signed on an initial one-month loan deal from Championship side West Bromwich Albion and Hird has been impressed with what he's seen of the 19-year-old at training.

He said: "In his first session, he looked really sharp, so hopefully he can be sharp in matches for us.

"I think our brand of football probably suits younger players coming in from academies, but equally, saying that, you're going into a tough, physical league where you have to be willing to stand up and fight, as well as do the pretty stuff."