HAMPSHIRE all-rounder Liam Dawson believes Dorset will be desperate to spring a surprise when the teams lock horns today.

Dorset take on the County Championship side in a T20 friendly at Bashley Cricket Ground and will be hopeful of repeating their victory in the equivalent fixture last year.

However, the task will be extremely tough for Chris Park’s troops given Hampshire have named a near full-strength side for the clash.

While the Ageas Bowl side are using the fixture to warm up for their forthcoming T20 Blast campaign, a more pressing concern is Sunday’s four-day game against Nottinghamshire, with Hampshire keen to improve their lowly position in the Division One standings.

And with that in mind, Dawson emphasised avoiding injury would be a key factor against a Dorset side who he believes will be highly motivated to cause an upset.

He told the Daily Echo: “Dorset are going to be up for it.

“They will want to try and beat us and it is good that they are in form as it will give us a good challenge, one we are looking forward to.

“For us, it is a warm-up and it will be good to hit a white ball again. We’ve had four or five weeks of red-ball cricket and we have another red-ball game on Sunday as well.

“We want to try and win the game but it’s not the be-all and end-all.

“We have a massive four-day game coming up and we don’t want to get any injuries before that. We will be looking to take it fairly easy while getting some lads in form for white-ball cricket.”

It will not be a first trip to BCG for the Swindon-born 26-year-old and he is excited at the prospect of turning out at the venue once more.

Dawson added: “I haven’t been to Bashley for a number of years but I played some academy cricket there when I was younger.

“I’m looking forward to going back.

“Hopefully, the wicket will be good and that will be the main test with the weather around. If it’s a good wicket then it should be a pretty decent game.”

Dawson made his limited overs debut for Hampshire in August 2007 and his first-class debut against Yorkshire a month later.

The right-handed batsman became the youngest player to score a first-class century for the club when he hit 100 not out against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in September 2008.

Arguably Hampshire's most versatile player, Dawson can bat anywhere in the top and middle orders as well as bowl in all forms of the game.

Following a successful off-season, Liam received his first full England call-up when he was named in the 15-man squad for the 2016 ICC World T20 in India.