Most important match in a decade

“They are bottom of the table and we’re only four points off the second from bottom position, so it’s vital we win it,” Williams says.

“We haven’t won a game since Bournemouth came to Stoneham on June 1.

“That’s eight games ago .”

But Williams believes the tide may be turning in Trojans’ favour.

“We were much improved against Bashley seconds last week and, but for the rain, we would have won.

“So we may be turning a corner,” he continued.

Trojans: Williams, Boyd, Truscott, Oakden, Robinson, Sayed, Saxon, Blake, Longman, Sutherland, Faisal.

Portsmouth & Southsea are the side Trojans must keep ahead of – and last year’s Hampshire League champions face a difficult visit to Havant II.

Third-placed South Wilts II have lost Tom Cowley to the first team, but face a test against a Fair Oak side chasing a fifth straight win at Bemerton.

Oaks make an interesting change behind the stumps, with the evergreen Ian Bass replacing his 15-year old son Alex, who has been called up for Academy duty.

“It may be Ian’s Premier League debut, but he’s taking it very seriously and learning to read our mystery spinner Rufus Bullough,” said skipper Jakmes Featherstone.

Regular captain Rhys Oxley is honeymooning in the Mediterranean.

Fair Oak: J Featherstone (c), S Freemantle, R Featherstone, N Feltham, T Hockenhull, I Bass, G Stewart, A Mash, A Abbas, M Burrell, R Bullough.

Table toppers Portsmouth are also without their captain, Dave Henderson, who also has wedding duties and misses the trip to Basingstoke & North Hants.

Full SEPL cricket preview in today's Daily Echo