BASINGSTOKE'S playing strength will be fully tested in a cup and league double-header weekend.

Tomorrow the Down Grange side entertain high-riding North Walsham in a rearranged league match before travelling to Portsmouth on Sunday to open their defence of the Hampshire Cup.

The priority for director of rugby Ian Calder is staying up in national division three south and tomorrow's match against the East Anglian side is all-important.

"At the moment, we are still in control of our destiny," he said. "You don't want to be relying on other teams to stay up."

He is encouraged after losing by a single point at Blackheath, one of the promotion candidates, last Saturday. North Walsham have shown in recent weeks that they are vulnerable and Basingstoke will be keen to avenge a 34-10 defeat in Norfolk in the first half of the season.

Missing at Blackheath were captain Richard Baker and fellow flanker Phil Della-Savina. The two influential players return tomorrow, although Della-Savina is being rested for the cup semi-final trip to Portsmouth along with other first-choice forwards.

To even things up, Portsmouth too have a league match tomorrow. The fourth-placed side in London division two south have to travel to relegation-threatened Effingham and Leatherhead.

If Basingstoke win at Norway Road on Sunday and Jersey win at home to Andover, the cup final on Sunday April 6 will be staged at Down Grange.

The form book would indicate an Andover win in the Channel Islands to guarantee a final at Foxcotte Park.

It is holders Basingstoke's first match in the competition because each of their scheduled first two opponents - Havant, beaten finalists in the last two seasons, and Gosport and Fareham - withdrew from the competition.

Basingstoke (v North Walsham): C Norton; Y Cullum, B Kirwan, N Taylor, J Rees; I Calder, T Dean; S Collins, M Evans, S Hobden, A Wilson, M Reeve, P Della-Savina, R Baker (capt), S St Bernard. Reps: R Northcote, T Windett, N Young, S Buttle.