BOURNEMOUTH skipper Chris Park says his charges are preparing themselves for a “critical” run of fixtures in the next month.

Promotion-chasing Lions have started their Southern League Division One campaign with three wins and a defeat and sit second in the table behind Hook & Newnham Basics.

The Chapel Gate outfit on Saturday host third-place Ventnor (12.30pm) before making the trip to Portsmouth a week later.

They also face home tests against Sarisbury Athletic and Calmore Sports in June, either side of an away battle at Hook.

Park told the Daily Echo: “The lads are already earmarking the next month as critical fixtures and, hopefully, we can find a bit of form and a bit more consistency.

“We have looked at the next five weeks and we have teams who are considered to be in the top half.”

Asked who he thought would be challenging to seal top spot, the wicketkeeper-batsman replied: “At the beginning of the season I thought it would be Ventnor, Portsmouth, Hook and us. Potentially, that’s the way it could go.

“There is still a long way to go in the season and the winners of the league can, potentially, lose three or four games.

“I think there will be some real twists and turns moving forwards and everybody can beat each other.

“We have to respect each opposition we have and it’s interesting times because every single game is competitive. You can’t just turn up any week and think you have a right to win a game of cricket.”

He added: “Ventnor are a good side and it will be a difficult challenge but it’s down to the players individually to find some form.

“They have signed a couple of good players this year. Chris Russell, their captain, is a former first-class player for Worcestershire – he has a lot of pedigree.

“They have strength in their squad and it will be a tough game. It’s still early season but maybe the league table is starting to take shape after four games.”

Bournemouth have been forced to make one change to their line-up which overcame Hartley Wintney by six wickets on Saturday.

Dave Kidner, who took five for 28 last time out, is unavailable but Lions are set to be boosted by the return of Herefordshire paceman Dan Conway.

The 33-year-old, who played seven first-class games for Oxford MCCU, took four for 22 against Andover on the opening day of the season.

“Dan has been missing for the past three weeks but is keen as mustard. He can’t wait to play again and I am looking forward to getting him back in the frame,” added Park.

“Hopefully, he will be available for the next couple of weeks. Moving forward, his availability is going to be better.”

Park is also set to be part of Dorset’s T20 squad for their crucial double header at Cornwall on Sunday.