THERE are six clubs that could win the ECB Southern Electric Premier League this season.

That's the forecast of Bournemouth skipper Richard Scott, who - give or take a few seasons in the county game with Hampshire - has been playing locally for over 20 years.

"For ten years or more clubs have put a considerable amount of work into improving their grounds and developing young cricketers - and are now beginning to reap the rewards," he said.

"The improved quality of the grounds has had an obvious impact, with more and more quality players set to turn out in the Premier League this summer. I genuinely believe it's got all the makings of the strongest league I've played in."

South Wilts walked away with the title last season - the first time the trophy had gone to Bemerton in 15 years - but Scott firmly believes it will be an open race this summer.

"Virtually all the sides look that much stronger and, with players like Chris Rogers, from Western Australia, coming across to play against guys like Greg Lamb and Jono McLean off the Hampshire staff, the standard will soar," Scott added.

"BAT Sports, Havant and South Wilts will be there for certain - but Bashley (Rydal), Portsmouth and ourselves are all much stronger this season. But it largely depends on how you start. Win a couple of early games and you're up and away," he said.

Ironically, South Wilts swept to the Championship after losing their first two games last season.

"But that's a little unusual," Scott remarked.

It's looking increasingly doubtful South Wilts will play when the sixth season of Premier League begins on Saturday. The champions' scheduled to visit to Bashley (Rydal) - along with Bournemouth's match against BAT, and newly-promoted Hursley Park's joust with Andover - are rated extremely doubtful after heavy rain during the past week.

"In most cases, the strips are playable, but the outfields are struggling to cope with the amount of rain we've had and are consequently waterlogged," explained Hursley Park's Chris Westbrook, recently named ECB Groundsman of the Year.

Two games that should go ahead are the Havant-Portsmouth derby and the Hampshire Academy's match against Liphook & Ripsley on the Rose Bowl Nursery ground.

The visit to Havant, where they seldom do well, is the first of an awesome start for Lee Savident's Portsmouth. "We've also got BAT, Bournemouth and South Wilts to play in the first four weeks of the season - and they don't come much harder than those four," Savident said.

A crumb of comfort for Savident is that neither Paul Gover, James Ingram nor Richard Pineo will be in the Havant line-up.

Portsmouth's planned starting eleven includes Bryan Pietersen, 22, younger brother of Kevin. He arrived from South Africa last night.

His only previous UK experience came in June 2001 when he played two Second XI Championship appearances for Notts - one of them against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

An opening bowler, he finished with match figures of 5-106 off 15 overs, removing Jason Laney and John Stephenson in both innings!

A Division 2 preview will appear in Saturday's Pink.