Dorchester are hopeful of getting their NSA Dorset Premier Division season off the ground at home to last season's runners-up Wim-borne tomorrow despite last night's downpours.

"Providing we get the sun that is forecast and no more heavy rain the wicket at the Rec should be okay," predicted Dorchester vice-captain Sean Walbridge, who was in action on the ground last night before the thunderstorms brought a halt to the Evening League game he was playing in.

"It was a pity about the rain because we were looking at Saturday's strip before our match last night and it looked really firm," he added. "Now it is bound to be slow again."

Following the departure of last season's star opener Dave Maslen to try his luck at a higher level with Westlands and the unavailability, for the time being at least, of county opener Rhys Davies, Dorchester's selectors are going for a youthful opening batting combination tomorrow.

Teenager Ian Sibley gets the job along with newcomer Quinten Miller, the Exeter University student who looked a class act when he opened for the Seconds in their defeat of Beaminster at the Rec last Saturday.

"He also bowled a very tidy spell and that give us plenty of options with the ball as well," said Walbridge.

Hard-hitting Aussie newcomer Sid Cavallaro goes in at number three for Dorchester and, though Wimborne's bowlers will unquestionably be a lot more difficult to handle, he will be looking to repeat last Sunday's mauling of Shaftesbury's bowlers which brought him an undefeated 126.

Former Dorchester skipper Steve Barrett, who started playing again this season after several years as an umpire, makes a return tomorrow and Walbridge believes his experience will be invaluable.

"He's already shown up well in the nets and had a very useful knock in our friendly against Street a fortnight ago," he said.