Wiltshire all-rounder James Hibberd will be missing as runaway leaders BAT look to extend their SEPL lead against third-placed South Wilts at Lower Bemerton tomorrow (11.30am).

But Hibberd's (below) absence will be cushioned by the return of left-arm seamer Dan Goldstraw.

BAT have won all five games so far but played their Get out of Jail card to win at Alton last week.

"A win certainly didn't look likely when we dipped to 63-7 chasing Alton's 178," reflected coach Colin Beer. "But the lower order, Rob Franklin and Nigel Bungay, in particular, batted magnificently and won us the game."

Beer will be looking for BAT's top order batsmen to assert themselves on a flat Bemerton deck, which promises a run fest.

"It's a good batting pitch and it ought to be a high scoring game, with 300-plus scores possible after the recent fine weather," said Beer, who opened the South Wilts' bowling back in the 1970s.

South Wilts skipper Rob Wade is pondering on whether to call up 2nd XI wicketkeeper Charlie Duffell, who cracked an unbeaten 163 in last week's Hampshire League victory over St Cross.

"The problem is that we've got so much batting and it would be a case of where to physically bat Charlie in the order if he plays," Wade explained.

Teenage seam bowler Ross Crick has lost his place in the side in the likelihood that James Tomlinson will be available to spearhead the attack.

Unchanged Bashley (Rydal) could climb into third place provided the results go their way.

They host winless Alton at the BCG and will climb a peg if they win and BAT beat South Wilts.

Bashley skipper Andy Sexton is quietly confident his side can make it three wins out of four.

"Southsea is never an easy place to go and win, but we played well and beat Portsmouth by eight wickets last week, so we'll be hoping to take things on another step tomorrow," Sexton said.

But Sexton has warned that, despite losing their first five games, Alton will be no pushovers.

"They should have beaten Havant first up then last week they somehow lost to BAT, having reduced them to 63-7.

"Alton have some useful players and it's not simply a case of us turning up to win."

Simon Watkins (broken thumb) continues to sit it out for the Academy against Portsmouth, while prospective England Under-17 all-rounder Liam Dawson takes a well earned break from his GCSE examinations to play.

Steve Dean and Richard Pineo miss Havant's home game with high riding Hursley Park, who may have Hampshire's Billy Taylor in their line up.

Hursley lie second, 15 points behind BAT, and have won two of their opening three games.

Craig de Waymarn, whose 65 against the Hampshire Academy last week might have proved a winning knock but for an unnecessary run-out, misses Bournemouth's away-day at Liphook & Ripsley, who have also yet to win.

Uni student Dan Jarman, who has been in good form for the 2nd XI, steps in for the breakfast time departure.

"Our comparatively young side did well chasing 325 last week. Getting 296 back against as decent Academy attack has provided the team with a lot of confidence," said skipper Darren Cowley.