THERE will be little in the way of festive cheer for the loser when Southampton and Romsey lock horns for the third time in a month tomorrow.

With the scoreline standing at one match apiece - Romsey taking the London Division Four South-West League points in November before Southampton claimed the cup game a fortnight ago - the match is given added significance by the perilous position of both clubs.

Southampton sit bottom of the table while the visitors are two points and two places above - but a victory for the city side will take them ahead of Bryan Musk's outfit and Marcus Coffin has urged his team to put aside last week's disappointing performance at Old Emanuel.

Saints make a host of changes, many positional, including a complete switch for Richard Battley. He reverts from full-back to the second-row while former captain Tony Cador plays in his third position in three weeks, moving to inside centre.

Lee Mauger is joined on the bench by the returning Martyn Sheridan, who is back from a rugby sojourn to Dubai.

"We have nothing to lose," says the captain. "Everyone must stand up for this massive home game."

Petersfield are also in the thick of the relegation mire and receive league leaders Guernsey to Penns Place, welcoming back Charlie Mason from working commitments in Essex to the second-row while Richard Alderman moves across to centre.

It is a strong outfit and coach Mike O'Shea, noticing Guernsey's last result, feels they can pull off a surprise.

"We can win this game as we know the kind of game that Guernsey will try and play and have read the reports on the Reigatian game of last week."

All the Petersfield senior teams will be observing a minute's silence as a mark of respect to first XV and Hampshire scrum-half Will Amesbury, who was found dead in the town centre during the week.

Tottonians are seeking revenge for the Hampshire Cup defeat at Andover when they take their full side to the north of the county looking to secure their position in the promotion places.

They know it will not be an easy proposition at Will Frost's improving All Blacks, although Totts skipper Paul Goodall admits that they learned quite a bit about them without giving much away with a much changed side on that 22-0 defeat a fortnight ago.

Mark Amey is preferred to young Dan Taylor in the back row while Mike Dibden's broken nose has healed to allow him to return. Robbie Searle continues on the bench, despite impressing on his debut against Farnham.

"I believe it will be a close game again but we are very confident having come through a tough encounter with Farnham last week," said Goodall.

Winchester are back in action after having the weekend off last week and have had the chance to get three key players back to fitness for the game with London Irish Amateur.

Skipper Richard Knight, Tom Pervin and Adam Hayes have battled their way into contention and coach Barry Bridgman has admitted his side are "close to being back to full strength," as they try to stop their run of five straight defeats.