Tottonians have benefited from Old Blues' withdrawal from London Division Three South-West by regaining fourth spot.

But they will only hold on to it if they return to winning ways against the side they replaced - Farnham.

Winchester's scheduled Surrey opponents this weekend have finally thrown in the towel after 18 months of continuous struggle to field a competitive side and they will sit out the season, taking their relegation to Four South-West should they satisfy the league.

It leaves Barry Bridgman's side without a fixture tomorrow but allows them to take stock, especially now that they are only two points adrift of second place despite five straight defeats.

League secretary Mike Ward said of Old Blues: "The competitions committee has accepted that the club has problems and agrees that the fairest competition, in the interest of all other clubs in London Three South-West, is best satisfied by the complete exclusion of all Old Blues games."

With their results expunged from the record, it means Totts go ahead of Farnham on marginal points difference but they could go second if results go their way. With second-placed Effingham hosting Jersey and Wimbledonians in third taking on London Irish, it could happen.

Totts are back to full strength after their problems of last weekend at Andover, with the return of Tom Pearson in the front row and Jason Jones at number eight.

Paul Brading and Ange Mariani are together again in the centres while Lee Brading is preferred at full-back. Elliot Green will start on the wing. Hampshire Under-18 youngster Robbie Searle, cousin of prop Matt, gets a replacements bench debut.

"Having played them four times before, we have won three," states skipper Paul Goodall. "We are aware of their big pack but if we can stick to our game plan then we should be confident enough to win."

Talking of confidence, some of it is emerging at Southampton at last after their victory over Romsey in the Hampshire Bowl last week and they need it in abundance when they visit winless Old Emanuel in London Four South-West.

They make a number of changes from that win with Tony Cador reverting to flanker, Ben Sadowski reappearing at fly-half after a long absence and Ben Rainbow replacing Richard Battley.

They need the win and skipper Marcus Coffin believes they can bring one home from Surrey.

"Spirits are high after last weekend and things are looking good for this game," he said.

Romsey could drop back into the bottom two as they play second-placed Dorking but the visitors have lost their last two so could be vulnerable.