THE relegation vultures are still flying over Gosport & Fareham as they tackle Sidcup, knowing only a home win over a side just three points ahead of them will suffice.

Sean Fanning's team remain third from bottom but a solid performance in front of their passionate home support could see them move away - and close the gap on the congested mid-table region.

The Peninsula Men will be minus five backs, all away on Royal Navy Rugby League duty, when they meet the Wakefield-based Normanton Knights in the first round of the other code's Powergen Challenge Cup at Burnaby Road.

James Barnes, James Wagstaffe, Ben Taylor, Steve Emm and Richard Neve will all switch to the 13-a-side game.

At least it allows a first start of the season for winger Jon Hogarth, who is still awaiting a knee operation he was expecting 18 months ago, while Andy Vance could return from his knee strain.

The front row is an area of uncertainly, with Paul Maxwell and Jon Ward carrying injuries so Geoff Bell and skipper Simon Burns stand by. Burns may start anyway, depending on his fitness at training.

Fanning fires out a stern warning to his side.

"This is a must-win game," he said. "We simply cannot afford to lose it. Every game we are in now is going to be a battle."

Portsmouth face a tricky test at sixth-placed Wimbledon and their problems at fly-half continue, forcing James Brainwood back into action at 10 while Neil Styles reverts to full-back. Brendan Treacey is back at number eight after a week out through injury.

In National Three South, Havant travel to relegation-threatened Weston-super-Mare hoping to record only their third win on their travels in a game that director of rugby Adam King describes as "the most important match of the season thus far."

A win on the Somerset coast will lift the Hooks Lane outfit to within nipping distance of their survival target of 50 points but they will expect a physical encounter against opponents hunting every point for their own safety.

Havant make the trip without skipper Jon Barfoot and second-row Ali Ramus while Steve Claffey remains on the sidelines with a medial tear. But player-coach Owen Cobbe is available for a rare away day.

King was blunt in his assessment of the game.

"Provided we match them physically, we have the firepower to win but there will be no hiding places in the West," he said. "And I won't be taking players who want to hide.

"If they want to do that, they can do so in the Dolphins match at Basingstoke. I have faith in my squad but we need to step up from last weekend, that is for certain."