With the leagues at the lower levels taking a two-week sabbatical over the Christmas period, there is a skeleton programme of matches, with teams taking the chance to experiment and allow fringe players the opportunity of a first team appearance.

Fawley receive a strong Southampton second team hoping to bounce back from their surprise league loss to Ventnor last week, a result that leaves them six points adrift of runaway leaders Isle of Wight.

Andy Headley takes the chance to see a couple of players in new positions, including regular back row member Dave Radford in a try-out at second row.

"He played there against Alresford and Ventnor for a short while and did well, so I would like to see how he goes for the whole game," explained Headley. Welshman Brian Grist is given a start at scrum-half with Jeff Plumley wearing ten as Headley aims to go into the break with a win under their belts.

Tottonians have hastily arranged a match with Salisbury II, and that should not cause too much in the way of trouble for the super-charged London Four South-West outfit. But many players are rested from the exhausted league side.

Former Hamble captain Scott Noble starts in the front row with Simon Eustace under his arm at hooker while Jon Stewart plays in the second row instead of his normal prop place. Chris Bethel, Andy Martin and Clive Wilkes make up the back row with Ali Ramus sitting on the bench.

Paul Brading leads the side for the first time.

It is old boys against old boys at Brookfield School with Paxton Pumas taking on their former teammates from Fareham Heathens in a match that will say farewell to long-standing clubman Jim Dunn, who is returning to his Scarborough roots after 16 years involvement with Heathens.

The 55-year-old's departure sees the club's former vets reformed for the one-off game.