Romsey embark on a two-week Hampshire Division One championship push before Christmas as they take on two of their nearest rivals in the space of seven days - starting with their closest, Farnborough, tomorrow at Tile Barn Close.

A win for Brian Musk's side will open up a three-point lead at the top and mark them down as outright favourites for promotion, having beaten all of their rivals away from home.

But Farnborough will not allow that to happen lightly, although they were far from convincing in beating lowly Eastleigh 15-8 last week.

The experienced Nick Roach returns to the centre for Romsey but leading try scorer Richard Dollimore is acting as best man at a wedding so misses the game. Jerry Francis moves over to replace him while JJ Barber is back for the unavailable Stuart McCormick at loosehead.

With two defeats in the last two weeks, the visit of Guernsey is probably not what New Milton & District need now. However, some pointed words at training from skipper Matt Rule has attempted to rekindle their early-season form.

They will need to against a Guernsey side that are third in the table but suffered a shock reverse to Fareham Heathens on their last visit to the mainland.

Bryn Darbyshire's long absence through injury is over and he returns to the centre, pushing Steve Broomfield to the wing, and Ben Bradley-Watson is recalled for the suspended Matt Colein, who was sent off in last week's defeat at Millbrook.

Millbrook themselves go from underdogs to the position of favourites in their game at bottom-placed Hamble, but a win for Alan Day's side will move them closer to the top-of-the-table action.

Once again, though, there are changes in personnel with Chris Ings, who was also sent-off in the New Milton match, switching to full-back with first choice regulars Dave Owens (work), Simon Coffin and Dave Geddes (watching Saints) all out.

Wayne Renwick returns to the centre, while Jim Brown is included for the back-troubled Leigh Sign, who sits on the bench. "We never play very well when we are expected to win, and I hope that will not be the case tomorrow," said Day.

Fareham Heathens have been dealt the worst pre-Christmas fixture list ever, with successive 'overseas' trips in the space of two weeks - starting with Sandown & Shanklin tomorrow and the much-anticipated flight to Guernsey next week.

One man who will not be on that flight but a different one next week will be John Caulfield, who returns home to Australia after half a season with the Cams Alders club. Ed Monk replaces Anthony Reynolds on the flank and Richie Botham returns from two weeks out.

Twenty-year-old winger Ben Rushmere makes a very welcome return from a long-standing injury on the wing for the game which skipper Mark Steward expects to be a "traditionally physical fixture against our island 'friends' But a further two points this side of Christmas will do us no harm at all."

The bottom three sides have been cast adrift, but Eastleigh can throw themselves a lifeline from the other two if they can beat Nomads at the University of Portsmouth ground, with a virtually full-strength looking side.

Seamus Noonan moves back to full-back so his cousin Peter can take the fly-half berth, allowing Richard Andrews the number nine shirt. Steve Crowley keeps his place in the front row, while Arnie Payne starts on the flank.