BRIAN HOWARD and Andy Nicholas are poised to pen new two-year deals at the County Ground.

The two summer signings have become first team regulars and once the necessary i's have been dotted and t's crossed, they will be committed to Town until the end of the 2005-6 campaign.

King said: "There has been a slight hold up with one of them over an agent situation, but nothing great, and I expect both of them to sign the contracts that have been offered.

"The two kids have been playing regularly, done well and I've done this at this stage because they will be part of the future.

"There are other players I need to look at whose contracts expire this summer, such as Alan Reeves, Steve Robinson, Jon Stevenson and David Duke.

"The truth of the situation is that part of my decisions on other players will be based on what happens this year, whether we get success or not.

"I'm not really in that great a rush on the issue. It's just in the cases of the two kids, I felt like moving on it. Nicholas has got better with each game while I think Howard has played in or been involved in 25 games."

Nicholas said: "The gaffer has told me he's pleased with my progress and wants to tie me down for another couple of years. I'll be delighted to sign."

Howard and Nicholas will almost certainly be included in the Town starting line-up at Bloomfield Road, but King is likely to make at least one change from the side that triumphed at Notts County last Saturday.

King said: "I will pick the team which I think will beat Blackpool. If that means making changes, then I'll make changes."

Favourite to be handed a first start is young Everton defender Sean O'Hanlon.

Andy Gurney's return from suspension also gives King a selection headache.

King said: "Sean looks composed and a decent player.

"It's very much at the forefront of my mind to put him in."

As for his Blackpool counterpart, King admits Steve McMahon is not 'on his Christmas card list', but he still has respect for him.

The Town boss said: "Steve McMahon is a battler. He won't lie down in any circumstances and he won't allow his team to do so either.

"I'm sure he'll be doubly up for this game because it's Swindon Town."

Victory at Bloomfield Road would give Town three league wins on the trot for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.

There is only one 'first since' story King is interested in.

He said: "The words I'm dying to hear are 'the first play-offs since Glenn Hoddle'. Hopefully that's what I'll hear at the end of the season.

"We are in top five and I want to keep the momentum going with a result at Blackpool."

Although keen not to look too far ahead, King is anxious to avoid a play-off derby clash until the final in Cardiff.

He said: "At Mansfield we ended up against Chesterfield in the play-offs. Anything can happen home and away.

"If we do get in there, I would love to avoid Bristol City apart from at the Millennium Stadium."