DROPPING down a division could boost playing numbers at Dorchester next season, according to captain Dan Belt.

The first-team skipper has had countless selection headaches with players making themselves unavailable for one reason or another throughout the summer.

But he feels that their relegation may ultimately act as a catalyst for youngsters to join the club which next year will be operating at a slightly lower standard of cricket.

The current first and second teams play their penultimate fixtures of 2013 tomorrow with Belt’s men hosting Parley and the second XI facing a Division Three derby at Weymouth.

With the title already wrapped up, Parley’s aim now will be to go the entire campaign unbeaten and although their opponents are heavy favourites, Belt just wants his players to enjoy what remains of a disappointing few months.

And looking forward to 2014, he reckons there may be a possible solution to the endless changes in the starting line-up.

“Parley have been the most consistent team this season,” he said.

“From what I have heard they have pretty much had the same side out every week and that’s always a big help if you want to win the league.

“I know a few youngsters that might be interested in playing for us next season and moving up to a higher level of cricket from where they are playing at the moment.

“That could be good for more consistency with team selection as with us dropping down a division the standard wouldn’t be as tough on them as it would be if we were still in the Premier League.

“Youngsters just want a chance to play cricket and it could work out that they are available more because we would hopefully do better in a lower division.

“It doesn’t look like we’ll have three teams next summer but with two we should still have 30 players to pick from.”

And there is still a bit of unfinished business for the side propping up the table.

Belt added: “I’ll definitely be glad to see the back of this season but we’ve just got to go out there and finish strongly.

“Even though we are relegated it’s a great opportunity for us to show that we can still play well against the top sides.

“We did well at Parley and got a good total but were a bit unlucky in the field. If some chances had gone to hand it could have been a different story.

“But we need to go out and enjoy it and have a bit of fun and our aim now is to finish above Weymouth.

“Both of us have got two hard games left so it should be interesting to see what happens.”

Dorchester: Belt, Dunham, Goodhew, Power, J Foot, G Foot, Diffey, Voss, Evans, Channon, Holland