SANDOWN & SHANKLIN will be looking to their neighbours to give them a helping hand in the race to the Hampshire One title when Isle of Wight receive leaders Trojans.

The Hurricanes, who meet Millbrook, are certainly hoping that Neil Brading's side can pull off the result they need to level things at the top and with the leading two still to meet.

But Trojans will have something to say about that and welcome back Graham Rapier in the centre and England Under-21 polo player Tom Mackintosh at number eight.

The hosts have Neil Emerson back at fly-half while Richard Sawle reverts to hooker from his regular back-row spot and they have been suitably encouraged following a fine performance last weekend against Southampton II.

Millbrook skipper Dean Weaver sees his side's trip to Sandown as "our biggest game of the season." He realises they need to find a victory to ensure they are not dragged into the relegation mire.

But he realises that Sandown will be difficult to beat on their own patch, despite naming a full strength side that had Richard Goodridge and Dominic Sales back in the squad, although Shannon Passingham's injury means he will only play a small part off the bench.

"We need to get a win, because anyone of a handful of teams can fall into that ninth place and I obviously don't want it to be us, so we must get a win sooner rather than later," he said.

Former Gosport & Fareham captain Jamie Daly becomes Fareham Heathens' third captain of the season and his first game in full charge is a tough away game at improving US Portsmouth.

Daly replaces lock Dave Wheaton, who coach Matt Southey took the leadership from after he was sin-binned during a third XV friendly match, although the coach is adamant he is looking more towards next season with the scrum-half's appointment.

Craig Shepherd returns at hooker, as does prop Chris Veale while Southey himself is forced to play alongside Wheaton.