HAMPSHIRE team manager Peter Line is backing a return to the round-robin format for the early stages of the Liberty Trophy.

Over the years bowling's indoor county championship has switched several times from either being a straight knock-out from the start or a competition with league qualifiers followed by sudden-death from the quarter-finals.

At present it is conducted entirely on a knock-out basis but the set-up is to be reviewed at the end of the current season - and Line is hoping that counties and the English Indoor BA will vote to revert to round robin groups in the early stages before the last eight go through to a knock-out.

As Hampshire face up to their first-round revenge mission against Essex at Whiteknights, Reading, on Saturday (10am), Line said: "At the moment one defeat and the season is over - in the Liberty's present state so many counties do not have the chance to build for the future whereas playing three times in a qualifying group helps them to do that."

After their brilliant runs in the previous two seasons when they twice reached the final at Melton Mowbray, Hampshire discovered what it was like to be dumped out at the first stage when they lost by five shots to Essex a year ago.

As they went into that match as the Liberty Trophy holders, it was a rude awakening - and they are determined not to be left out in the cold by another Essex defeat this time.

"The current format means that every game is like a final - you just don't get a second chance," added Line who is "quietly optimistic" that Hampshire will turn the tables this time.

Line feels he has a better equipped side than 12 months ago and he reckons the faster carpet at the Whiteknights club will suit his men more: "We have a better balanced team this time and I think we are stronger at the front end where I have brought in three new leads - former English indoor singles champion Andy Ross, who has previous Liberty experience, John Barter and Barry Starks.

"Twenty of the team have played for us before in the Liberty while one of the other newcomers, Bill Ward, has represented Warwickshire in the competition and Darren Griffith is used to the big time having been an under-25 international.

"The team are up for this one and we will certainly like the conditions because the carpet is quicker than when we played Essex at Watford last year."

As for Essex they are formidable opponents having used last season's triumph against Hampshire as the springboard to march through to the final where they lost to Lancashire. Prize for the winners is a date with either Devon or Cornwall on Saturday, November 25. Wiltshire tackle Dorset at Donyatt, Somerset, also on Saturday (midday).

First report of Hampshire v Essex in Saturday's Pink plus a more detailed report in Monday's Daily Echo from David Briers at Reading.