TOM Hicks is backing Dorset to come out fighting following the disappointment of falling at the penultimate hurdle in the Knockout Cup.

The Dean Park outfit travel to Alderley Edge to take on Cheshire tomorrow in the Minor Counties Championship – their first outing since last Sunday’s semi-final defeat at home to Cumberland in the one-day format.

Speaking to the Echo, Hicks said: “We beat Cheshire in the quarter-finals of the Knockout Cup and I see no reason why we cannot repeat the feat over three days.

“Having competed so well in the one-day game, we have every chance of doing well in the Championship as well.”

Dorset have made four changes to the side that lost against Cumberland with Chris Park, Nick Park, Chris Jones and Jack Leach being replaced by Charlie Esson, Chris Mole, Simon Watkins and Rupes Kitzinger.

Hicks added: “Chris and Nick are both unavailable while Chris and Jack are both in the Somerset squad to face South Africa but we still have a strong side with a mixture of experience and younger lads coming through.

“It is great how Charlie and Masoor Khan have come through the development system and now is a great chance to try and give them both experience and an extended run in the side.

“The aim is to keep on winning games but also build for the future at the same time and I am very confident we can strike that balance.

“The other thing about this weekend is that we have four left-handed batsmen in our top seven which could prove very important up against their two left-arm spinners. Hopefully, that will help to negate their threat.”

Dorset currently sit fourth in the Western Division following back-to-back draws against Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, while Cheshire lie third-bottom, five points adrift.