THE Gosport & Fareham big guns are back for their must-win home clash with Old Mid-Whitgiftians in London Two South.

Coach Sean Fanning and Army star Dave Goddard make their first starts of the season.

Fanning, who has bellowed his instructions from the sidelines through the year, finally makes his comeback from a serious knee injury that required reconstructive surgery while Goddard returns to play on the blindside flank - a new position for the regular full-back.

Jon Wood, Ben Taylor, Richard Hutchinson and Richard Daly are all back after missing last week's trip to Beckenham while Matt Smith holds his place in the second row. Mark Osborne goes back to hooker.

There could not be a more important game for the Peninsula men but their attentions will also be on the two sides that sandwich them in the table - Dartfordians playing at Tunbridge Wells.

"We need to win all our three remaining home games starting here," said Fanning. "If we don't then we are going to make our task of escaping more difficult. This week, one or two teams could open up some daylight, so it is crucial that we win."

Portsmouth put their title credentials on the line at third-placed Guildford, while leaders Barnes receive doomed but improving Camberley.

Havant could be fifth in National Three South come final whistle tomorrow when they travel to Dings Crusaders - a long way from their mid-October placing when they were rooted to the bottom.

Their injuries don't look to be easing much, although Steve Claffey returns to the centre while others hope to be fit, which prompts director of rugby Adam King to say: "On the face of it, it appears that we have an injury crisis - but this league is attritional."

Dings are ready for the taking but King said: "We should be under no illusions that Dings is a tough place to win but we have now scored more tries than anybody outside the top three."