DORSET are sweating on the availability of two key players as they aim to steer their Unicorns Championship campaign back on course against Cheshire.

Chris Park's side suffered a disappointing start to the Championship season when they were condemned to a heavy defeat at Shropshire a fortnight ago.

And the presence of Hampshire professional Lewis McManus and up-and-coming batsman Tom Arnold is in doubt ahead of tomorrow's clash at Chapel Gate.

McManus, included in Hampshire's 14-man squad for the abandoned T20 Blast clash with Sussex last night, could again be required for another T20 fixture at Somerset tomorrow.

Arnold, who chipped a bone in his finger in Dorset's Unicorns Trophy win over Wiltshire last weekend, will hope to come through New Milton's Southern Premier League fixture at Hampshire Academy today.

Reflecting on his potential line-up, Park told the Daily Echo: "Fingers crossed both players will be available. Tom thinks he will be fit to play but we will have to wait and see how he goes for New Milton and it will be a bonus if we have Lewis.

"Tom did brilliantly in the first game for us against Shropshire and also in the one-day game last week, so long may that continue.

"He fully deserved his selection and proved us right in that selection. He is still very new to the game but we can't fault his first three innings for us."

The Western Division clash with Cheshire will be Dorset's first competitive fixture within the county this year, following their enforced exit from Dean Park.

Skipper Park, also without Max Waller due to Somerset commitments, added: "We are looking forward to returning to Chapel Gate and hopefully, we can get a similar crowd to what we got at Dean Park and maybe a few more.

"The format in the one-day games has been fantastic and we are looking to improve in the three-day format which is a bigger test of technical and tactical aspects.

"We need to maintain the consistency of our one-day game over three days."

Dorset: (from) Khan, McManus, Arnold, Porter, Webb, Digby, Park, Wolstenholme, Thomson, Currie, Lilley, Pack, Barber, Trueman.

Parley will hope to cash in on unexpected home advantage when they host former Lord’s winners Goatacre tomorrow.

The teams clash in a rearranged National Village Cup regional final at Christchurch Road, West Parley (1pm).

Parley had originally been drawn away to the West of England Premier League Division One club in the Dorset/Wiltshire final.

But when last Sunday’s tie was washed out, competition rules meant a change of venue.

Unbeaten in Hampshire League Division Three South, Parley play six rungs below Goatacre so remain underdogs.

But if they manage to avenge last season’s county final defeat, Parley will visit either North Perrott or Timsbury in the first national round on June 25.

Parley: Nippard, Collins, Rowett, Morris, Green, Embalagama, Thomas, Wilson, Jennings, Nicholls, Blackley.