Eastleigh spy left out in cold
By Wendy Gee - 
But the Spitfires needs only look at the Scholars' recent record in non-League's premier cup competition to realise the scale of the test ahead of them.
Eastleigh sit one tier above Chasetown in the Blue Square Bet South, but the fearless Staffordshire side care nothing for reputation.
Having seen off Kettering in a first round replay, the Evo-Stik Northern Premier outfit then claimed a second Conference National scalp, stunning Grimsby Town 2-1 to achieve what their manager Charlie Blakemore described as "a dream come true."
Eastleigh boss Ian Baird said: "We haven't had them watched. I sent someone up there last Saturday, but their game was called off at 12 o'clock because of a frozen pitch.
"But I've spoken to a couple of managers in their league and got match reports off them and the consensus of opinion is that Chasetown are a very good side on a very good run.
"They're notoriously successful in cup competitions and, looking at their results, they deserve the utmost respect.
"From what I've heard, they've got a bit of everything. They're a footballing side, but they're also quite physical.
"They've beaten the likes of Grimsby and Kettering and are clearly a team to be reckoned with."
For Eastleigh, it's their first venture into the Trophy's last 16.
Baird rates tomorrow's tie as "the biggest cup game in our history" - not least from a financial point of view.
Having already banked £15,000 from the FA Prize Fund, victory tomorrow would boost the coffers by a further £7,000.
And, with Chasetown expecting to bring 200 fans down with them, Eastleigh stand to make a five-figure sum if they win.
Although Baird's men go into the game off the back of a 2-1 league defeat at Thurrock last Saturday, that was their first loss in 13 league and cup games stretching back to mid November.
Since then they have picked up 19 out of a possible 24 league points and sailed through two Trophy replays away at Sutton (4-0) and Worcester City (4-1).
With seven league games to follow this month, Eastleigh could do with getting a result at the first time of asking tomorrow, but Baird stressed: "There's no such thing as a give-me in football."
With Gareth Barfoot still out with an adductor muscle problem, the experienced Jason Matthews will again be in goal.
Defenders Luke Byles (hamstring) and Warren Goodhind (knee) are major doubts, but Baird is hopeful that winger Tony Taggart will battle through the ankle problem that's been troubling him for a couple of weeks.
Brett Poate had a reserve team run out this week despite fears of knee cartilage damage. "We think there's a problem there, but sometimes you can play through it until the end of the season," said Baird.
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