MICHAEL Pope is set to make a surprise return for Bournemouth in the Dorset & Wilts Cup final.

The young Twin Counties winger has been named in Lions’ squad for their clash against Swanage & Wareham at Dorchester on Sunday (3pm).

Pope, who lit up Chapel Gate for several seasons before moving to Premiership new boys Exeter at the beginning of this term, is still registered with the Dorset club.

Lions chief David Dunn said: “Michael never de-registered from Bournemouth and if he features, it’ll be his first senior game of the season for us.

“Michael’s had a very good campaign at Exeter Chiefs. He’s featured in their Alliance 15 and played for Exeter University, who got to the semi-final of the British Universities’ Cup.

“He’s played a few games in our second team and it’s just nice to bring him back for the final really.”

Bournemouth, who whipped Swans 46-8 in last season’s cup showcase, have beaten the Purbeck outfit in the past three finals and are hot favourites to make it four in a row.

Dunn has left out Tim Wareham, Sam Hardcastle, Dan Pollard and Simon Lilley from Lions’ squad that beat Old Patesians 31-17.

“We have a lot of battered and bruised players,” said Dunn, who admitted Lions had one eye on their probable National Three promotion play-off against Barnes or Hertford.

“But you go into every competition wanting to win it and we know Swans boss Tom Dillon will make sure his players are up for turning us over.”

Dillon, who has named a full strength squad, said: “I don’t want a repeat of last year’s final and just hope we can compete with them.

“We’ll have to play extremely well to beat them.

“It’s a big ask, but I have full confidence in my players and we’ll be putting 150 per cent effort into it.

“We understand the county cup is not as important as the league to Bournemouth, but I expect them to be as up for it as us and treat this final with the respect it deserves.”

Lions: (from) K Lynch, Yarwood, Bruce, Chislett, Connolly, R Lynch, Wilford, Manning, Seward, Forrest, Ford, Dunkerley, Hennings, Hughes, Tarrant, McFarlane, Pope, Burns, Stanton-Ketchley, Mallard, Collier.

Swans: (from) Sheldrake, Elford, Andrews, Burgess, Penney, Warren, Lewis, Large, Toms, Graves, Wilcox, Parish, Rowberry, Dunsford, Alner, Frampton, Audley, Collins, Maginn, Smyth, Prior, Blackmore.

• Oakmeadians visit Witney tomorrow as they continue their battle to avoid the drop from South West One East.

Oaks: (from) Valentine, Stephenson, Wells, Summers, Evans, Richards, Porter, Ford, Bell, Tryska, Morgan, Frost, Hurley, Osborne, Secher, Henrickson, Atkins, Davies.