A QUARTET of Cherries players will be hoping to help their respective loan clubs flourish in the play-offs on Saturday.

Striker Lewis Grabban is expected to start when Aston Villa visit Middlesbrough in the first leg of the Championship semi-final at the Riverside.

Grabban has netted eight goals in 15 appearances since joining Villa in January, including four in his past four games.

A beaten finalist with Reading last season, the 30-year-old frontman will be hoping to go one better after helping the Midlands outfit finish fourth this season.

Villa ended their Championship campaign seven points ahead of Boro who are looking to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop will be out to get one over former Cherries team-mate Jayden Stockley when Lincoln host Exeter in the first leg of the League Two semi-final.

Allsop kept five clean sheets in 16 league games for the Imps and also helped them upset the odds by beating Shrewsbury in the final of the Checkatrade Trophy on their first trip to Wembley last month.

The 25-year-old, who is out of contract at Vitality Stadium in the summer, was beaten by Stockley during Lincoln's 3-2 win over Exeter at Sincil Bank in March.

It was one of 19 goals scored by Poole-raised Stockley as the Grecians finished fourth in League Two, five points ahead of Lincoln in their first season back in the Football League.

Cherries under-21 squad members Joe Quigley and Ollie Harfield are set to be involved when Boreham Wood lock horns with Tranmere Rovers for a place in the Football League.

The Hertfordshire outfit came through play-offs against AFC Fylde and Sutton United to progress to the National League final at Wembley.

Striker Quigley came off the bench in their 3-2 win at Sutton on Sunday, while defender Harfield was an unused substitute as the Wood set up a first visit to England's national stadium.

Quigley has netted once in nine games since signing in January, while Harfield has been restricted to one appearance from the bench.

The Wood, who finished the season fourth in the National League, will be looking to reach the Football League for their first time in their history.