Gosport & Fareham coach Sean Fanning was back on the phone this week calling in players from across the club as the problems that have beset their season return for the visit to Guildford.
With Richard Hutchinson, James Barnes, Michael Cordner and second row partners Harry Harrison and Fred Dugan all missing, Fanning has a headache filling the gaps.
Club stalwart Richard Lloyd is likely to play at fly-half while Steve Emm and Gary Middleton are in line for a recall but the real area of concern is in the second-row where number 8 Chris Thompson or squad man Paul Flower could fill in.
Fanning has been encouraged by Gosport's upturn in form since new year .
"We need to build on that but having five unavailable players just a week after we have been able to play our full strength side is not helpful," he said.
League leaders Portsmouth still have Barnes breathing down their necks so can afford no slips against lowly Dartfordians or the dreaded play-offs may loom large.
Coach Jason Ford takes a place on the bench as front-row back-up while Chris Goldsmith and Brendan Treacey are injured so Harry Cripps and Simon Lloyd keep their places. Former captain Neil Styles holds onto the troublesome fly-half shirt with Pete Wylie and Stuart McLaughlin still nursing crucial ligament injuries.
Havant return to home comforts and a meeting with basement dwellers Haywards Heath at Hooks Lane, looking to regain their National Three South top-six place.
The return of player-coach Owen Cobbe could make all the difference as director of rugby Adam King tries not to tamper with the team. Skipper Jon Barfoot is away on business so Graham Butterworth comes in.
King has warned his players against any kind of complacency, given Heath are fighting for their lives and have added two more southern hemisphere players to their squad this week.
"This is a key game for us," reflects King. "But if any of our players think this will be an easy ride, then they are going to be in for a nasty shock."
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