FOREST Green are hoping to sign former Cheltenham Town midfielder Ben Gill following his release from Slovenian club Interblock Ljubljana.

The ex-Arsenal trainee, 22, played under Rovers boss Dave Hockaday in the Watford academy and has experience of the Blue Square Bet Premier with Cambridge United, Crawley Town and Weymouth.

Gill's stint abroad means international clearance is required before he can return to an English club, but he could yet make his debut in tomorrow's clash with Southport at the New Lawn (3pm).

Hockaday must make changes to his backline after Scott Bartlett and Gavin Caines were both sent off at Crawley on Monday.

The Rovers boss remains upset about Caines' dismissal, insisting any contact on striker Matt Tubbs was minimal and took place outside the box.

Instead Crawley were awarded a penalty, converted by Tubbs to inflict Rovers' first defeat in five outings, but Hockaday is backing his side to bounce back quickly.

He said: "I don't want to keep saying we're building but I really feel my team can only get better.

"The Crawley game proved again that this group of players will not give way.

"Luck and circumstances went against us but the performance was so encouraging."

Hockaday was less enamoured by Jon Else's 72nd-minute penalty miss, and he will demand his players stick to pre-arranged plans if awarded another spot-kick tomorrow.

"We had an order of takers and Jon wasn't even on it, but Ian Herring was less confident after he had one saved against Gateshead and decided to give way," Hockaday explained.

"Lee Fowler was next on the list and was playing very well, so he should have taken it. We need to stick one away before it becomes a mental block."

The absence of Bartlett and Caines could see both Curtis McDonald and Jamie Grimes return to the starting line-up, while striker Ross Dyer could be involved for the first time this season after a knee problem.

But James Norwood (adductor) remains a major doubt and Jared Hodgkiss (knee) faces another three weeks on the sidelines.

Newly promoted Southport have begun the season impressively and head to Nailsworth on a four-game unbeaten run in the league.

They have also had the luxury of a full week's preparation for tomorrow's match, with their Bank Holiday trip to Gateshead postponed because the International Stadium was hosting an athletics tournament.

■ To mark national Non-League Day, Rovers have reduced entry prices for holders of Premier League and Football League season tickets to £10 – a saving of up to £5.