Pre-season promotion favourites Trojans have to return to winning ways if they are to keep pace with the current leaders of Hampshire Division One and they aim to start their recovery at resurgent Fareham Heathens.

With three consecutive defeats, two of which in the league, the Stoneham Lane side have dropped to seventh, two places below their opponents but a victory could lift them back up into promotion contention.

However, Heathens, fresh from a superb second half performance at Old Emanuel last week are at virtual full strength and include former Trojan - amongst a catalogue of other clubs - Matt Southey among their replacements.

Teenager Ian Hudson is given a chance for the visitors in the centres while Simon Matthews returns at scrum-half for the game that coach Pete Surtees knows that "we have to win. And the way we are playing, when it all comes together, someone is going to get it big."

The big match, however, pairs second against third. And if that was not enough to get excited about, it pits deadly island rivals Sandown & Shanklin and Isle of Wight for the first time in the league since 1996 - when they met in Hampshire Division Two.

Can Eastleigh put an end of Guernsey's unbeaten run at the top? They travel to Footes Lane in an attempt to do so and welcome back Peter Noonan at fly-half but are without Phil Campling and Colin McArdle through injury while Christian Longhurst is absent.

They will have to put an end to their own disappointing run of results but could spring a surprise on the free-scoring Channel Islanders.

Fawley captain Ian Cromar knows only too well that victory against New Milton & District is imperative if his side are to steer clear of trouble at the wrong end of the table and they are able to name a strong looking side for the short hop across the New Forest.

Number eight Ross Smith starts for the first time this season having returned from Wales while veteran Mike Macdonald is included at fly-half and Shaun Hanlon comes in at centre. Andy Headley is back but Russell Froud and Craig Thomas are sidelined through injury.

"We must seize the opportunity when the team is at full strength," urges Cromar, "and I feel even though we are missing Russell and Craig, the team is still the strongest we have turned out this season."

Millbrook also need to wipe away the zero from the wins column and aim to do that at Farnborough, although they are not certain the format of their forwards so name a squad of ten to chose from.

Fordingbridge need to start winning also in Hampshire Division Two and welcome Lytchett Minster to the Recreation Ground while leaders Nomads can regain top spot at home to Aldershot & Fleet.

Third choice fly-half Wesley Harper-Ronald is given his chance while Toby Simmonds takes his turn on the lock rotation system. Tim Ayles and Gareth Wallis start their first matches for the Portsmouth based club while Kevin Mounsor is on the bench.

The Fordingbridge story is similar at Stoneham Park in Hampshire Division Three and it is crunch time for Tiernan Simmons'side as they travel to Verwood.