BAT Sports put their unbeaten ECB Southern Electric Premier League start at risk against Lee Savident's recharged Portsmouth at St Helen's, Southsea, tomorrow (1pm).

And BAT's in-form skipper, David Banks, pictured right, continuing to deputize for the injured Richard Dibden (shoulder), predicts a fraught afternoon for the defending champions.

"They came unstuck against Havant's spinners last week, but Portsmouth are a much improved side this season," he warned. "They've already beaten the Academy and Liphook & Ripsley, so confidence will be pretty high."

Carl Bradfield, Portsmouth's Eastern Province left-hand opener, should benefit from a drier surface - he has yet to score double figures in the SPL - while Savident looks to recapture his century-making form against the Young Hawks.

Portsmouth have dropped seasoned seam bowler Paul Jenkins in favour of Pete Hayward, while BAT send out an unchanged side.

Kevin Latouf, on 12th man duty at Headingley last week, returns for the Hampshire Academy against Liphook & Ripsley on the Rose Bowl nursery ground. Chris Wright, who has claimed several notable county scalps for Cambridge UCCE this season, is in the Liphook team following his return from Havant.

Arch rivals Bashley (Rydal) and New Milton won't be thinking about Sunday's Cockspur Cup derby at Fernhill (1.30) - until they've each had a tilt at ECB Southern Electric Premier League rivals Havant.

Fate sees Bashley entertain Havant in the ECB Premier Division 1 at the same time as New Milton head east to play Havant 2nd XI.

Bashley got their rain-ruined start up and running with a win at Liphook & Ripsley last week, while New Milton are brimming with confidence after two Cockspur Cup wins and a Premier Division 3 victory over Hungerford.

Havant seniors have beaten Portsmouth, but lost to Andover, while Havant 2nd XI - who entertain New Milton - have won both matches against Leckford and Trojans.

"We've had some terrific games with Havant in the past," Bashley skipper Matt King recalled.

"Some people are saying they aren't as strong this season as in the past, but I've yet to see a weak Havant team in the Premier League."

Bashley's Western Australian all-rounder Shawn Gillies lines up against his old Havant teammates from 2001. The visitors include Suffolk paceman Richard Pineo, who replaces 14-year-old left-arm spin sensation Chris Morgan, who is playing for his school at Bryanston.

But it's Sunday's Cockspur Cup derby that's got the cricketers talking in the New Milton area.

The two clubs, whose grounds are barely a half-mile apart, clash for the first time in seven years in a full competitive match.

The last time the teams met, in 1997, Neil Taylor was playing for New Milton. On Sunday, he will line up against his younger brother Steve.

A place in the national championship zonal semi-finals is up for grabs - and there's no doubt New Milton fancy their chances of an upset.

They know Bashley opening bowler Kevin Nash has a Wiltshire match and Gillies is ineligible.

With Hampshire Academy batsman David Wheeler strengthening their own side, Milton are quietly confident.

"We're on a hiding to nothing," King confesses. "We're expected to win, but if we lose to New Milton, we'll never hear the last of it."

Max Smith takes over the Old Tauntonians & Romsey captain's armband against Bournemouth at the Romsey Sports Centre.

Regular skipper Jodey Brown is away and is replaced by Dorset Under-23 recruit Henry Lamb.

OTR lost their opener to BAT Sports last week, but the champions' captain, David Banks, praised last year's much-changed Premier 2 winners for their out-cricket.

Bournemouth name the side that has beaten South Wilts and Andover in its last two games - but is still well short of its best form.

Russell Rowe, felled by a rising delivery playing for Wiltshire in the C & G Trophy at Trent Bridge earlier this week, should be fit to face Andover.

Beaten in their opening two league games and knocked out of the Cockspur Cup last weekend, South Wilts desperately need runs from Rowe's bat which has been comparatively silent of late.

Andover, who visit Havant in the Cockspur Cup on Sunday, are strengthened by the return of Ian Langdown at Lower Bemerton.