With the league season completed all sights are set on a trip to Twickenham at the end of the month for Hampshire county players, as they target a return to the top flight, starting at Eastern Counties tomorrow.

Hampshire, playing in the County Championship Shield tournament - the second tier competition for the sides outside the top 16 in the country - can regain their place in the Championship should they reach HQ on May 24.

Coaches Simon Morgan and Roy Gittens have named a squad of 25 for the trip to Woodford, as they ensure various injury knocks have recovered from last weeks' exertions - especially with Henley Hawks centre Russell Osman a doubt.

Russell, one of three of the Osman brothers in the squad, was injured during his sides' surprise defeat to Newbury on Saturday, so former King Edward VI School starlet Tony Paul, who is now playing out of London Irish, stands by.

Southampton prop Marcus Coffin has been rewarded for his outstanding effort for his club by being listed as one of the four props, alongside Omeed Matini, who has not made a first XV appearance for Havant but comes through on the merit of his performances for the county Under-20s.

Flanker Brendan Treacey and winger Tom Holloway join the squad having missed the warm-up fixtures due to club commitments with Clifton and Newbury respectively.

Morgan is satisfied that his squad is good enough to compete and go all the way to the final. "I think this squad is better than the one we had last season, and I hope that we can show the class that we have," he said.

"Having the Henley and Newbury lads available is a boost, as they have played some good rugby this season in National Division Two, but the range of clubs across the squad is very promising."

Some six league levels separate some of the team members, but it does look a powerful outfit that should be able to account for Eastern Counties, who have already lost a game in this season's Shield.

They went down 20-6 last weekend to Somerset, who Hampshire meet at Basingstoke in a week's time.

Gosport & Fareham captain Simon Burns heads the local naval contingent as they look to regain the Inter Services Championship title away from the Army in the annual Twickenham decider.

There is no place for clubmate Andy Vance, who scored for the Navy against Hampshire a fortnight ago, although he has been included for the Navy tour of Australia and New Zealand next week.

George Baird and Will Jerrold carry the United Services flag, while former Havant pair Dave Sibson and Michael Cox also try and dislodge the Fijian-enhanced Army side that will start the game as favourites to retain the trophy they won 18-13 last May.

Andover coach Keith Mitchell is aiming to be fit for the veterans' clash before the main event, where he is likely to be joined by Steve Emm, the Gosport winger, for the Army reds.

On a lighter note, Salisbury Rugby Club bring the curtain down on their season with a festival day on Sunday, which includes the much anticipated sevens tournament and a match between the current and 'old' Colts XVs from 1.30pm.

This free-flowing light-hearted match is in remembrance of Joe Osmond, a man who was synonymous with the Wiltshire-based club and the prize for the winners is his trusty walking stick!

"He was never without it," said club scrum-half and former Saracens player Marcus Olsen. "So it is only right that the prize be his walking stick."