LYMINGTON skipper Simon Beetham predicts the club’s rivalry with New Milton will intensify following the Green and Golds’ return to the Southern Premier League top flight.

New Milton won promotion from Division One last year and will make the short journey east to face their neighbours tomorrow afternoon (1pm).

Both teams succumbed to narrow opening-day losses with New Milton suffering defeat to St Cross and Lymington being beaten by Bashley at BCG.

And Beetham is keen to avoid missing out on local bragging rights for a second weekend in a row.

He told the Daily Echo: “No one likes losing and if it’s your local rivals then you feel it a little bit more so, hopefully, we will get the result we want this time.

“We’ve played against New Milton several times in pre-season games in the past few years and there is a little bit of a rivalry there.

“That will most likely build up again now they are in the same league and we will see how Saturday goes.

“It is nice to have several local teams in the league. You get to know the characters and it helps in preparing for the opposition because you know a little bit more about them.”

Lymington will make a late call on the fitness of Dorset ace Ryan Scott, who is struggling with a groin injury.

Rich Lock is set to be promoted from the seconds while big-hitter Darren Cowley is also due to take his place in the side.

Lymo: (from) Beetham, Ellis, McManus, Hand, Rogers, Scott, Cowley, Lock, Metcalfe, Freeman, Blake, Calcott.

Bashley captain Mike Porter expects pace bowling to be at a premium when his team travel to Havant tomorrow (1pm).

The unchanged New Forest outfit will attempt to make it two wins from two in the Southern Premier League against their hosts.

Porter told the Daily Echo: “Having played against Havant at Havant Park, they tend to fill the team with a load of spinners, so that is probably what we will be expecting.

“They certainly play to their strengths. I saw last week they opened with a spinner, which is a bit unusual.

“But we’ve all played against it before and, hopefully, we will come out on top come the end of the game.

“We are on the back of a good win last week so we are in a pretty good place.

“We felt we played well against Lymington and as I was happy with the batting and bowling performances, it would have been harsh to drop anyone.”

Bashley: Gates, Thurgood, Jacques, Porter, Bailiff, Watkins, Ridley, Neal, Digby, Thomson, Nash.

Parley will hope to secure progress to the third round of the National Village Cup when they entertain Wiltshire side Burbage & Easton Royal on Sunday.

Shrewton or Horningsham will await if Parley secure a second victory in the competition.