Two divisions separate the final pairing in the Hampshire Worthington's Cup first round, but that will count for very little when on-a-high Tottonians host a Portsmouth side battered by injuries and festive unavailability at Totton College tomorrow.

The last of the re-arranged games from way back in November, when both were still competing in the Powergen Intermediate Cup, this game comes at a difficult time for the visitors, which could mean an upset is on the cards.

Not withstanding the fact that their coach Ian Chandler has his mind firmly set on more pressing league matters, declaring that the Hampshire Cup is "a long way down on the list of priorities for us this season."

It is unfortunate that is the case, as this could have been an intriguing test for Ali Ramus and his side, who name a virtually full strength side.

Sean Eustace, who performed well against New Milton last week, keeps his place as hooker with injured Miles Northover, holidaying Simon Dine and working Brian Goodall all absent. Former Hamble skipper Scott Noble is granted his first start for the club.

Otherwise, Totts are raring to go and, with an impromptu training session this evening "to get rid of the mince pies," according to Ramus, he feels his side have "as good a chance as any". He added: "We are playing very well and with us being at home, we fancy our chances."

Chandler brings his London Two South outfit without at least seven players from their win against Wimbledon last week, while scrum-half Mike Vine is rated as very doubtful, so the McLaughlan brothers, Jamie and Stuart, could be in tandem at half-backs.

Bath University student Tom Sumner, a great loss to the club since his study move, returns for the Christmas holiday and helps his old club out on the wing and the Australian pairing of Grant Erskine and Damian Abbey are included.

"This will not be an easy game, especially with us not training this week," said Chandler. "But, to be honest, I am not particularly interested in this result and the cup is priority number three on my list. The league and reaching the play-offs is number one for Portsmouth RFC."

A win for Basingstoke in their re-arranged National Division Three South league match at Barking could see them leapfrog two places into the comfortable confines of mid-table ahead of the turbulent new year programme.

But they already know the strength of the opponents, having already suffered a heavy home reverse at the beginning of November, when they won 50-24, one of only four wins from 14 starts for the Essex men.

Director of rugby Ian Calder names just one alteration to that victorious at Havant last weekend with Marcus Reeve replacing dead-leg suffering Phil Della Savina.

Steve Drawbridge returns to the bench for Reeve, as Calder feels, "it is a very important game for us, but we cannot look at their league position as we know what they are capable of with their win at our place.

"We can go up there, like we did at Havant, and win. That result was a big one for us and has filled the lads with plenty of confidence."