It is a hugely important weekend for improving Winchester, who can claim a London Division One mid-table berth if they can beat an unpredictable Norwich side at Nuns Road tomorrow.

The East Anglians, always one of the pre-season promotion candidates, are not exactly showing that kind of form. They share a similar record to their hosts with one win from four games but are one place ahead on points difference, mainly due to a 44-0 home thrashing of Cheshunt.

But Michael Marchant, the Winchester coach, feels that the Lions are ready for the taking, The only change from the team who were unfortunate to go down at leaders Southend last week, is the return of number eight Mike Harfoot in place of Richard Fraser.

Steve Showell, who has impressed the coaching staff with his performances in the second row, keeps out Rolf Stratford. Stratford takes a seat on the bench while a question mark hangs over the hooker position, with Ricky Taylor and Ian Miller fighting it out.

Marchant said: "Norwich are not playing too well away from home and the way we are playing may just hold the edge for us. We were desperately unlucky at Southend last week with some rough decisions not going our way.

"Hopefully, we can recreate that kind of performance and move into mid-table with a home win against a side not at their best on the road."

All three Hampshire sides in London Division Two South head to Kent. Gosport & Fareham, in second place, face Sevenoaks, while Andover can build on their opening win with another at Beckenham.

Portsmouth, still nursing an extensive injury list and smarting from the Tunbridge Wells defeat, visit fourth-bottom Maidstone.

The peninsular men are still without Army rugby league duo, coach Sean Fanning and winger Jon Hogarth, for their trip east. Steve Emm and Paul Fackrell are recalled in the back division as Paul Middleton is unavailable and namesake Steve drops to the bench.

Veteran lock Mark Camp replaces his trusty second row partner of many years, Fred Dugan, while there is a surprise call up for the former captain and coach Mark Wells. Wells announced his retirement at the end of last season but he is included in the replacements list.

No such trouble for Keith Mitchell's Andover side that make just two changes to that victorious over Effingham & Leatherhead. Mark Gittos comes in for Danny Culley and Alex McNair replaces Lee Cowley, both in the back row.

With a win under the belts, Mitchell is looking to improve on that, but knows his side's away form leaves plenty to be desired. "If we can win it up front and dominate in the forwards, then we could just sneak something.

"But Beckenham have good backs and we are not playing that well away from home, with two forty-point losses to our name. That said, we had bad days at the start of last season and look what happened."

Portsmouth coach Ian Chandler is left counting the injuries and doubts over his side before they trek to Maidstone.

After all the hype of being pre-season promotion favourites, he is now noticing the massive differences in his young side to that of the league runners-up last term - just one regular back is left in Pete Wylie and he is doubtful for the Kent trip.

He is definitely without Brit Pearce (until at least Christmas) and Mark Davies while Nick Ettery plays his first game since the visit to Andover. "The average age of the side is just 24 and we are lacking experience. We are expecting a very tough game - I hope we can bring the points home."