LAURIE ‘Cube’ Whyte is under no illusions about the identity of Ferndown Wayferers’ key man ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Redlands (1.30pm).

Dorset ace Eric Linge is regarded as one of the top players in the county and last weekend he showed exactly why by ripping apart Dorchester with figures of 4-16 after scoring a well-crafted 122 with the bat.

Whyte, whose side have won four out of their last five, told Echosport: “Linge is arguably the best player in the league. Against Dorchester last Saturday, he picked up the majority of the wickets and scored half his side’s runs after being dropped on 20-odd, so the key for us tomorrow will be taking our chances.

“If we can do that and not allow him to dictate then man for man I think we can do it.

“He is their ace in the pack but this week we have Ben Lawes who is ours.

“Ben has also played for Dorset and when you look at what he has done over the years he is another huge player at this standard.

“When he is playing regularly he is our number one batsman and he is a pretty handy off-spin bowler too, so the fact he is available this weekend is a big boost.”

Pace bowler Rob Nobbs and opening batsman Hayden White will also return for Weymouth tomorrow while Matt Lawes, Ben Doidge and Tim Guyett all miss out due to other commitments.

Whyte added: “We are in good form at the minute. We have been bowling and fielding very well as a unit and our batting is now coming along too.

“The likes of Tom England and Kieron Womble have really stepped up and that has helped take some of the pressure of the senior batsmen to score all the runs.

“When people looked at our team at the start of the season I think they thought we would be heading for a relegation battle but we have managed to prove a few wrong and we will go into tomorrow’s game full of confidence.”

Weymouth currently sit fifth in the top-flight, just seven points above Ferndown, who beat the Seasiders by two wickets last time they met.

Weymouth: Janaway, White, Payne, Womble, Lawes, England, Ryall, Whyte, Hutchens, Nobbs, Trotter.

* Weymouth Seconds will fancy their chances of picking up their first win of the season at Witchampton tomorrow (2pm).

In their last two outings the Seasiders have gone agonisingly close to breaking their duck and skipper Michael Pearce will be hoping they can go one step further this weekend.

Last Saturday the basement boys fell just 24 runs short against Shilling-stone, which came off the back of a 13-run defeat against Beaminster.

Seconds: Monk, McKay, Gordon, J Armfield, C Armfield, Boggust, Tucker, Pearce, Puckett, Sers, Mitchell.