WEYMOUTH will be without frontline bowler Dan Hutchens for at least a fortnight due to an ankle problem.

The talented paceman suffered the injury in last Saturday’s shock defeat against basement boys Marnhull and will be replaced at Redlands tomorrow by the returning Michael Pearce.

With the Seasiders still in danger of getting sucked into a relegation dogfight, Hutchens’ absence has come as a huge blow. But as skipper Paul Payne insists, it could have been much worse.

He said: “Dan had his ankle checked out and thankfully it is not as bad as we first feared. He will be out for a couple of weeks but at least there is a good chance he will be able to return for the final two games of the season.

“The other positive thing is that we have a good replacement to come in, in the form of Michael Pearce, who has bowled really well whenever he has played this season.

“Michael pulled a hamstring in the defeat against Dorchester a few weeks ago but he has undergone a fitness test this week and came through it fine, so it will be good to see him back.”

The defeat at Marnhull typified Weymouth’s rollercoaster campaign so far this season. The Seasiders were in full control of the contest at one stage but a strong rearguard action by the opposing tailenders and a failure to deliver with the bat ultimately contributed to their demise.

Payne is now eager for a reaction from his players and he is confident he will get it against Blandford (1.30pm), who sit just one place above them in the table.

He said: “This season we seem to get into a position where we are playing well, only to let it go the following week, before bouncing back again the next.

“And bouncing back is exactly what we will be hoping to do tomorrow. We have a lot of character in the team and I am sure we will respond, as we need to try and put some breathing space between us and the teams below us. The last thing we want is for it all to go down to the last couple of games.”

Blandford beat the Seasiders by 11 runs on June 5 and Payne is under no illusions about what his side will have to do to overcome the North Dorset outfit.

He said: “At their place we produced our poorest bowling performance of the season, giving them 57 extras in a really good game of cricket.

“You just cannot afford to do that at any level and we will be looking to put that right tomorrow. The track at Redlands is normally a high scoring wicket so it will be very important that we bowl tight and field well.”

Weymouth: Payne, Ryall, J Armfield, Fitzgerald, Janaway, McKay, Falloon, Lawes, Doidge, Whyte, Pearce.

* Sri Lankan Mohamed Rikaz will be a surprise addition in Weymouth Seconds’ line up tomorrow when they travel to third-placed Sherborne Seconds in Division One (1.30pm).

The trialist, who is a medium-quick bowler, replaces Cameron Armfield as the Seasiders look to bounce back from last Saturday’s shock defeat against basement boys Beaminster. Weymouth can still capture a top-three finish but in order to achieve that, victory at the Terrace is a must.

Weymouth Seconds: Mitchem, Ulhaq, Womble, Almond, Bray, Mote, Ladd-Gibbon, Rikaz, Trotter, Walton, Ryan.

* The top two will clash in Division Five tomorrow when league leaders Weymouth 3rds host Winton Sports Seconds at Redlands (2pm).

The Seasiders have lost just once so far this campaign and victory over their Bournemouth rivals would almost guarantee them the title.