IT will be more than just tactics that sway Richard Hill’s team selection for Eastleigh’s Vanarama Conference showdown with Torquay United at the Silverlake Stadium tomorrow.

After the rigours of a 500-mile round journey and 90 energy-sapping minutes of football at Southport on Tuesday, Hill is determined to keep his squad in good physical condition and may well “change the shape of the team around a bit” for the visit of the FA Trophy semi-finalists.

It spoke volumes for the Spitfires’ endurance and character that they absorbed the blow of Southport’s 76th-minute opener and fought back with late goals from Joe Partington and Jai Reason – the 2-1 victory lifting them to sixth, just three points shy of the play-offs.

But such a monumental effort will have taken its toll and, with one or two of his new signings like striker Deon Burton and zippy wide midfielder Dan Walker, still short of match practice, Hill intends to manage the squad carefully.

“Tuesday was tough, like I said it would be, but we work hard on our shape and fitness and I’d like to think that’s where we came into our own,” he said. “I had the lads tested at training yesterday to see where we are.

“We’ve got to be careful, especially as one or two of the new lads, like Deon and Dan, haven’t played much this season.

“It’s all right saying we’ve got to throw them straight in and play them, but experience with Jamie Turley shows what could potentially happen unless you introduce players slowly.”

Central defender Turley, only recently back from a broken arm, got safely through his comeback game against Grimsby only to bow out early in the 3-3 draw against Telford with a hamstring strain.

“You tend to pick up these little injuries when you haven’t played much and Dan Walker came to us having been sub in a couple of games for Braintree after he’d been out injured,” said Hill.

“Everyone was surprised we’d signed a Braintree player, but Dan’s become a bit of a favourite after 20 minutes on the pitch in one home game.

“If I think it’s right to play him tomorrow, I will. But if I don’t think it’s right, tactically and medically, I won’t.

“Dan’s come from training two nights a week with Braintree to training three days a week with us and he might need to catch up a bit.

“I spoke to both him and Deon and we know where we’re going and how best to utilise them.

“Once they’ve had a few training sessions and been on the pitch for 30/35 minutes, they’ll be in better shape to start. But bring them back too soon and you risk losing them.”

Turley and fellow centre-back Dean Beckwith (shoulder) remain sidelined tomorrow against 15th-placed Torquay who are unbeatable in the Trophy but can’t buy a win in the league. Since beating Halifax on December 9, they have drawn four and lost three.

Defender Paul Reid, who has himself been playing through the pain barrier, returned at Southport, partnering AFC Bournemouth loanee Partington who needed five stitches in his eyebrow after putting his head in where it hurt to bury Eastleigh’s equaliser.

“He’ll be all right,” said Hill. “I told Joe he couldn’t be a centre-half with no scratches and scars on his face.”

Eastleigh lost 2-0 at Plainmoor in late November, but Hill recalled: “I wasn’t disappointed with the performance. We could have played the same way and won, but on the day we couldn’t score.”