MARTYN Sekjer is convinced this will be Hampshire's year in the Liberty Trophy - even though his old county Kent bar their path in this weekend's semi-final.

The sides have a High Noon clash at Hitchin, Hertfordshire, on Saturday, the prize for the winners being a trip to Melton Mowbray for the final on April 17.

Hampshire have twice contested the final in recent seasons finishing runners-up in 1998 against Cumbria and then returning to take revenge on the same opposition a year later when Peter Line was manager.

Kent have a similar record: holders in 2003 after losing the 2001 final.

The last four matches between Hampshire and Kent have ended two apiece. Hampshire won the last encounter 124-102 - a first-round date last winter - but their England skip Sekjer was quick to say that should be forgotten.

"The time to catch Kent is early on when they are cold - as I realised when I was with them. They were cold when we played them last season but once they get the bit between their teeth, they are a different side.

"They are bubbling again and we know full well they will be up for it on Saturday.

"Andy Thomson, who reached the world semi-finals at Potters this month, will be playing for them and it's bound to be tough but I fancy us to beat them.

"Perhaps my heart is ruling the head but things are building in Hampshire. We have a super team spirit and we have been getting better with each round.

"We treated the Devon match as a big game and I said we needed to win by 30 shots at home to go through. In the end we won by 27 and we were backed by a tremendous display from the rinks at Exeter.

"It's that level of performance we have got to find again because if we get to Melton, I would back us to beat either Cambridgeshire or Norfolk who play in the other semi-final."

Following the 127-114 quarter-final triumph over Devon, Hampshire make just one change with Dean Morgan, a late absentee against Devon, coming in at number three to his East Dorset teammate Adam Tidby in place of Darren Griffith (Victory).

Banister Park's John Joslin, who made his Liberty debut in the quarter-final, retains his place at three to player/manager Julian Haines.