CHRISTCHURCH manager Graham Kemp is hoping the return of some key men can quickly put Priory’s title charge back on track.

Heavily depleted after a stomach bug hit the Hurn Bridge ranks, Christchurch were toppled from the Wessex Premier summit on Saturday.

Kemp, star striker Ben Osborne and Marcus Cullen were all confined to their sick beds as Priory suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at Hayling United.

But Kemp will be back in the dugout tonight, while Osborne is also fit for the top-of-the-table showdown against Moneyfields at Hurn Bridge (7.45pm).

Kemp told the Daily Echo: “The best news is that Karl Yelland is available after his injury. He had a hip problem and has missed the past five or six weeks. I am at pains to stress that if you want to seriously challenge for stuff, you need your best players available.”

Elsewhere in the Wessex League top flight, struggling New Milton Town will be desperate to gain a positive result when they visit mid-table outfit Bournemouth Poppies at Victoria Park.

Hamworthy United will be without unavailable striker Lee Chudy when they host GE Hamble at the County Ground, but former Cherries prospect Paddy Hester returns to the Hammers squad.

Priory: (from) Collins, Thompson, Legg, Crutchley, Magookin, Burden, Smith, Griffin, Cook, Puckett, Burt, Cornick, Lloyd, Taylor, Osborne, Yelland, Frampton.

Poppies: (from) Vaughan, Ayrton, Jackson, Wilson, Phillipson-Masters, Elliott, Watt, Clarke, Warren, Phillips, Maguire, Lepage, Llewelyn, Jones.

Linnets: (from) Hookway, Blackburn, Groves, Fox, Morris, Donaldson, Head, Barge, Booker, Holland, Proctor, Molloy, De’ath, Ramos, Whitcher, Pidgley, Watson.

Hammers: (from) Knights, Penny, Walker, Horlock, Murray, Carlile, Sturgess, Robinson, Bradley, Shovelton, Pekun, Muller, Wood, Staines, Hester.

n Bashley boss Frank Gray insists his men will be in positive mood for their Southern Premier trip to Arlesey Town.

The New Foresters are on their way to Armadillo Stadium, where the hosts will be defending an unbeaten league record.

Arlesey have only played four home games in the league this term after enjoying a fine run to the FA Cup first round, where they were knocked out by League One giants Coventry City.

Previewing this evening’s clash, Gray said: “They have done well at home and have had a decent start to the season. They will be looking to kick on from that and if they win their games in hand, they will be quite high up.

“It will be a tough game but we have got to go there positively.”

Portsmouth loan defender Elliot Wheeler, who sustained a badly gashed leg against AFC Totton, is likely to be on the sidelines for a further seven to 10 days.

Bash: (from) Moore, Bell, Oliver, Stephenson, Middleton, Knight, Richardson, Casey, Gradwell, Stokoe, Gamble, Jenkinson, Hill, Strickland, Foster.