EMMA Davies could find one of Team Solent's new members breathing down her neck in the Norwich Union AAA Indoor Championships and World Trials this weekend.

Andover's Commonwealth Games 800 metres semi-finalist will need to beware the threat of Lorraine Phillips at Birmingham, having joined Solent from Newbury.

Ranked in the UK top-ten, Phillips - who turns 26 on Saturday - won the South of England women's outdoor title last season and boasts a personal best of two minutes, 05.75 seconds.

Her middle-distance prowess will make her a big gun in the Team Solent armoury as they build on two successive UK Women's League promotions in Division 2 this season.

Davies, the reigning AAA under-23 champion, should start as favourite this weekend having triumphed in the Birmingham Games a fortnight ago in 2.11.80. Phillips had comfortably won her heat that day in 2.12.64, but dropped out in the final.

"Lorraine is going to be a useful signing for us," said Team Solent chairman Mike Smith. "As well as being an 800m talent, she also runs a good 400m and she's capable of giving Emma a close race this weekend."

Another Team Solent newcomer in action at Birming-ham will be 19-year-old triple/ long jumper Charmaine Turner, captured from Windsor, Slough & Eton.

Her coach, ex-triple jump international Joe Sweeney, recommended her to the South Coast club because Windsor have a surplus of jumping talent.

Turner warmed up for the AAAs by finishing second in the triple jump last weekend at the Scottish Indoor Championships with an impressive 11.79 metres leap.

Solent had hoped Turner would be joined in action this season by another jumps signing, Michaela Paul from the Ealing, Southall & Middlesex club, but the 19-year-old has been struck down by hepatitis B.

Solent's list of women's acquisitions is completed by Sarah White, a 1.70m high jumper from Andover who is studying at Loughborough University, and sprinters Leah Tribe, from City of Ports-mouth, and Melanie Rogers from Southampton City.

Ex-Portsmouth hammer ace Helen Arnold will also be cleared to compete in team events this summer and fellow thrower Cathy-Ann Hill is due back after having a baby.