US Portsmouth's Wessex League Division 1 title charge could have a different look come Saturday evening
It’s a huge weekend in Division 1 of the Wessex League with four of the top five meeting each other.
The one exception is leaders US Portsmouth, who are due to travel to lowly Ringwood.
Second-placed Bemerton visit third-placed Hythe & Dibden with Heath’s Justin Bennett a hat-trick away from 50 league and cup goals this term.
Bemerton are the division’s form side, having rattled off six straight wins.
Elsewhere, fifth-placed Andover New Street - five points behind USP but with three games in hand - visit fourth-placed Downton.
‘Two draws would be nice!’ quipped USP boss Glenn Turnbull.
US could be at full strength if top scorer and playmaker James Franklyn is declared fit after the ankle injury that ruled him out of the 4-0 home win over Andover Town a fortnight ago.
Winger Louis Castles is available again after missing a few months through work commitments, while midfielder Callum Glen could start after returning to the Victory Stadium from Baffins Milton Rovers.
USP, meanwhile, are still trying to fix new dates for the club’s two Portsmouth Senior Cup ties.
The first team’s tie with Horndean was postponed on Wednesday due to a waterlogged pitch, while the reserves are due to host Fareham Town for a place in the semi-final.
Turnbull said both ties could end up being played on the club’s 4G surface on a Thursday evening.
Neither USP or Horndean have a Wessex game next midweek, though.