Hampshire captain Steve Williams will be taking a leaf out of winning Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley’s extensive preparations book by warning his players against complacency in Sunday’s league final.

The county face a showdown with Essex, at The Warren, to determine the 2014 champion of England Golf’s South Eastern Group, writes ANDY GRIFFIN.

Southern division winners Hampshire will be favourites to add to their unbeaten record in the last five finals they have contested, stretching back to 2000, but Williams is taking nothing for granted.

“The message I will be emphasising to my team is to guard against complacency,” he said.

“We know we are one of the strongest counties in the country, and everyone will be expecting us to win the Telegraph Salver again.”

Williams added: “We will not be taking Essex lightly and, with the help of our coach, Rob Watts, we will prepare the players mentally for the challenge ahead, and have a good look at the course, which looks quite short on paper, when we play our practice round on Saturday afternoon.”

Sunday’s contest will be decided by four morning foursomes matches and eight afternoon singles games, and Williams hopes his team can take inspiration from former county star Justin Rose’s performance in the Ryder Cup, where he finished as top points scorer.

“Everyone connected with Hampshire golf can only be inspired by watching Justin produce some outstanding golf – both playing with Henrik Stenson in Saturday's fourballs, and in the singles on Sunday.

“People like Martin Young in my team played in county competitions with Justin when he was a teenager and, luckily, most of our county players either know Justin, or have had the chance to be around him and learn from him.”

Hampshire: Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor), Tom Robson (Rowlands Castle), Ben Wall (Hayling), Darren Walkley (Hayling), Scott Gregory (Corhampton), Haydn Reay (Army), Mark Burgess (Blackmoor), Gavin O’Neill (Royal Jersey), Billy Watson (North Hants).