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"Having seen them play, they're a similar side to what they had last year. They're a good, organised outfit and full of experienced players. Everyone is well aware of our situation at the moment and we've got a couple of home games coming up that we really need to get some points from.
"Circumstances aren't helping us, but we're not helping ourselves either so we need to dig in and show a great deal of resolve. We need to take chances in front of goal and make things happen for ourselves.
"Max (Gradel) was back this morning for the first time. His mother is in a stable condition and Max felt he wanted to come back and resume his football. We'll see how he reacts to a day's training. Mossy (Neil Moss) was back on the training field for the first time today and we'll see how he is tomorrow.
"Garreth (O'Connor) has been out for a little while and by his own admission he needed games. That's been the case ever since he's been here. At his best he is one of our more creative players, but I need to have a look at his fitness as Saturday may be too soon for him to start a match.
"We can only look at the immediate future and try to deal with that. We've got seven players who are injured and there is no real immediate prospect of any of them coming back. On the basis that we've only got 13 available outfield players, I will include Rob (Newman) in the squad. In the situation we find ourselves in, his experience will stand for more than any young person's enthusiasm."
In squad news the Cherries have huge pre-match injury problems as already mentioned, defenders Warren Cummings (arm), Ryan Garry (shin), Neil Young (knee), Billy Franks (calf), and Russ Perrett (hamstring), as well as midfielders Marvin Bartley (groin) and Jean-Francois Christophe (wrist) all being definite absentees tomorrow. With so many defenders currently on the sidelines Bournemouth last week re-registered 43-year old assistant manager and ex-Norwich centre-half Rob Newman as a player.
In better news for the home side centre-half Josh Gowling is now available after recovering from an ankle problem. Meanwhile, as mentioned by Bond, goalkeeper Neil Moss (broken nose) and midfielders Max Gradel (compassionate leave) and Gareth O'Connor (thigh) have all returned to training late this week, although with fitness issues uncertain it remains to be seen what part any of the trio wll play in the Cherries's matchday sixteen.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Steve Tanner from Bristol, and he will be assisted down the lines by Paul Norman from Sherborne in Dorset and Steve Rubery from Ilford in Essex. Meanwhile the fourth official will be James Linnington who is from Newport on the Isle of Wight.