Four divisions separate Winchester and their Powergen Intermediate Cup opponents United Services Portsmouth, so it should be a formality for the county capital's men.

It should - except Winchester have the injury list from hell and coach Mike Marchant is not enjoying the most pleasurable of starts to his tenure as head coach with as many as seven first choice players out and many more on the sidelines.

It means he names a squad with five new players in - Dan Waddington in the backs and Will Jacobs, Mark Jones, Steve Strong and Mark Crowley all included in the forwards - but will be minus skipper Richard Knight, Rob West and Stuart Farrington.

Services, fighting back after two seasons of troubled times, will prove no pushover for the black and ambers, a point certainly not missed by the frustrated coach.

"We are going to try a few things out this week," said Marchant. "But we equally have a very long season ahead and, with the amount of injuries we have, it is useful - if somewhat forced - to introduce players into practise for future times."

Trojans' visit to New Milton & District looks for all the money like a very interesting match between a side going well in Hampshire Division 1 against a team without a victory at the level one above.

The Foresters will fancy their chances of springing a surprise and have named their strongest side. Paul Langford, who scored two tries against Trojans III last weekend for Milton's second XV, is reinstalled to fly-half while Jim Blake returns in the second row.

However, Trojans could do with a win, if for nothing else to boost morale and get the wheels of their season in motion.

Richard Gilbertson keeps his place in the front row, making JP Cooke take a seat on the bench, and Simon Matthews comes in for Nigel LeBas in the only other change.

Trojans coach Richard Cheal is looking forward to the game and hopes his side can get the victory, but knows it will not be an easy trek to a lower league side.

"The pressure is different from that of a league game and the difference between the two levels is significant," he said.

"But we have not won and they are doing okay, so it bodes well for a good game."

Having defeated similar league opposition in round one, Tottonians should have no trouble in disposing of another when Sandown & Shanklin cross the Solent.

The Hampshire Division 1 Islanders have started the season well with one defeat from three - and that a tenacious 22-20 reverse at Farnborough last week. But they may find Tottonians, unbeaten and second in London 4 South-West an entirely different challenge.

Guy Tonkins returns from his three-week holiday for the hosts and displaces Michael Searle, who switches into the centre, as Paul Brading and Aaron Nelson are rested to allow their injuries time to heal. Lee Brading comes in for his elder brother.

The forwards, however, are unchanged from the side that beat Old Emanuel last weekend.

Portsmouth have probably the most clear-cut chance of progressing to round three, as they pay host to Sussex Division 1 strugglers Crowborough, a team three levels below their own.

Having lost their last two games, coach Ian Chandler has resisted the temptation of tinkering with the side and puts out his strongest XV in an effort to: "get us back on track."

"There is no way we want to experiment at the moment, we need to get some consistency going," he said.

Veteran number eight James Pegler plays his first game of the season and Anthony Lintern is given a debut at fly-half. Kent Mansbridge is also called up to hooker.

Elsewhere, London 4 meets London 3 with Alton, from 3SW, receiving 4SE side Bognor and 4SW's Petersfield travelling along the south coast to Brighton, plying their trade in 3SE.