Too early to talk about champions?

It's far too early in the season to talk about championships, but there's no doubt tomorrow's Havant-BAT Sports clash at Havant Park, 11.30am, will provide a significant pointer to the outcome of the latest ECB Southern Electric Premier League title tussle.

Havant, the reigning champions, have twice lifted the Premier crown in three seasons, BAT Sports sandwiching their success in between, winning it in 2001.

BAT are the masters of all-day cricket, having won a staggering 16 out of their last 17 `time' matches in the past three seasons - their latest win a massive 210-run demolition of Calmore Sports last weekend.

The result put BAT, the only unbeaten side, on top and clear of Havant, who came unstuck in a penultimate ball thriller at South Wilts a fortnight ago.

A thumb injury rules out Hampshire Under-17 all-rounder Ricky Rawlins, whose place is expected to go to seamer Mark Page.

Havant, knocked out of the ECB Club Championship at Basingstoke & North Hants on Sunday, are weakened by the absence of in-form batsman Luke Sears and influential South African Mackie Hobson, who has yet to play in the SPL this summer.

The defending champions line up with a three-pronged spin attack of Matt Cox, Richard Hindley and Phil Loat - all seasoned wicket takers - which suggests Havant will not use one of their harder, newly laid strips.

"It will be a terrific game," forecasts Havant skipper Paul Gover. "Both teams are laced with top club players who will bring out the best in each other."

Having taken a career-best 8-29 against Calmore, BAT left-arm pace bowler Dan Goldstraw is relishing the duel.

"This is a totally different ball game. There's some pretty decent Havant batsmen about and I'll be happy with a few scalsp, so long as we win," he smiled.

Calmore Sports, who sank to the Premier 1 basement after the BAT humiliation, are determined to bounce back quickly against Bournemouth at Loperwood Park, 11.30am.

Skipper Tom Pegler, boosted by Mark Boston's return, wants his side to show plenty of character tomorrow.

"Dan Goldstraw destroyed us with that 8-29 spell last week, but that's gone now and we need to get back to believing in ourselves and scoring runs," he said.

"We've got some young, inexperienced players - but they can play and I'm looking to them to come back hard.

"We're not a 53 all out side. We showed what we can do by beating the Academy lads a few weeks ago and I want us to apply the same approach tomorrow."

Bournemouth also lost last week by 83 runs to the Academy - the outcome largely influenced by a sparkling performance by Hampshire's Lawrie Prittipaul, who hit 81 before bowling a miserly ten-over spell.

Fit again Dorset batsman Charlie Holcomb replaces the unavailable Matt Mixer at Calmore.

Hampshire's Lawrie Prittipaul won't be quite sure which dressing room to use at the Rose Bowl when Portsmouth play the Academy team.

Under current SPL regulations, Portsmouth-based Prittipaul is eligible to play for both sides, although rival Premier clubs are certain to ask for the dual-registration rules relating to the Academy's full-time professionals to be reviewed for next season.

Prittipaul, who played his early Southern League cricket for Portsmouth, turned out for the city club in the opening match against Liphook, but turned in a match-winning performance in Academy colours at Bournemouth last week.

South Wilts skipper Rob Wade confesses he has no idea who will play for the Salisbury club against Liphook & Ripsley at Bemerton.

"We should have James Tomlinson back from university, but I've got quite a few players nursing injuries and who won't know until tonight whether they are going to be fit," he said.

Russell Rowe (bruised arm), Adie Holewell and Alex Senneck (back), and Adam Smith (ankle) are all on the `doubtful' list.

"Senneck is the most worrying. He developed a few problems at Andover last week, but if he plays we'll have a magnificent pace attack of Seeary, Senneck and Tomlinson.

"There's no club that can match that," said Wade, whose South Wilts side lie second behind BAT Sports in the log.

Western Australian Brad Thompson has passed himself fit and will strengthen the Bashley (Rydal) line up against Andover at the BCG.

The Aussie coach, who is set to succeed Hampshire's Paul Terry as coaching supremo at the Melville Grade club in Perth this autumn, has been out of action for the past month following a broken finger injury sustained at Havant on May 10.

He replaces seasoned campaigner John Whiting, who is recuperating in a health farm after his recent arduous bowling stints.

"Obviously it's a great boost to have Brad back and he'll stiffen the batting," said Bashley skipper Matt King, who is looking to extend his individual 16-wicket haul.

"Overall, I was pleased with the improved performance when we drew at Portsmouth last Saturday and feel we have started to get ourselves back on track.

"We took a lot more positives out of that game than negatives and fancy we'll beat Andover tomorrow," King added.