SOUTH Premier League pair City of Portsmouth and Fareham, are awaiting their fate - either to go up, or stay up!

In Portsmouth's case, a place alongside neighbours Havant in the EHA Division 2 next season beckons - provided they can get through the forthcoming divisional play-offs.

City have won the South League title by a three-point margin from Purley Walcountains but have to win at least one more match before they can think too much about the early May Milton Keynes showpiece.

Portsmouth are likely to play either West winners Bath Buccaneers or Harleston from the East in the first phase of the divisional play-offs, the winners of which will qualify for the round-robin EHA tournament.

Fareham, meanwhile, will have their eyes firmly fixed on the outcome of the EHA Division 2 showdown between Oxford Hawks and Ipwich, which will probably decide their fate as a Premier League club. Fareham, who finished third from bottom, will be relegated if Ipswich win - and send Oxford down into the South Premier League next season.

"We should be okay provided Oxford don't lose by more than one goal," explained a worried Steve Godwin, Fareham's under-pressure coach. "But rest assured, I won't be going to watch the game. I've lost enough hair already this season. Going to Oxford on April 7 would make me totally bald !"

Havant finished third in EHA2 after a Tim Davenport double set up a 2-1 win over Oxford Hawks.