DORCHESTER skipper Simon Mitchem insists his side are “raring to go” ahead of their crunch encounter with fellow title-chasers Poole Town in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division tomorrow (3pm).

With seven wins from nine completed games this season, the county town outfit currently sit fourth in the league standings, 22 points behind leaders Wimborne & Colehill.

But with the three teams above them at present to play in the next three weeks, starting with Poole, the captain knows the importance of their immediate run of fixtures.

He told Echosport: “It’s a really important few weeks for a lot of teams, not just us.

“I think it is still pretty open and there is a lot to play for. Some of the big teams still have to play each other, so the next few weeks are going to be key in deciding where people are going to end up.”

Looking at Poole specifically, who beat Dorchester at the Rec earlier in the campaign by three wickets, Mitchem said: “They are a canny side and know how to win games ugly.

“We just need to do the basics right and play simple cricket. We have to bowl straight, take our catches and bat sensibly.

“We definitely feel like we can go there and win, it’s just a case of playing the way we can and not getting drawn into the occasion.

“It’s all about our application, if we get that right and our attitude right and not take anything for granted, we have a real chance of winning.

“They were there for the taking in that game (the last between the sides) and we didn’t do ourselves justice with the bat.

“We had a good win last week and we are raring to go.”

Eiron Fitzgerald is set to come into the Dorchester side for the crunch encounter in place of Dan Morris and Mitchem insists it’s a good opportunity for him to impress.

“He has scored some runs in the twos and it’s a chance for him to step up. It’s a big game for him to come in for,” the skipper added when speaking about Fitzgerald.

“He has earned his chance. He is an extra bowling option as well, which gives us more strength in depth, which is good.”

Dorchester: Belt, Moxom, McKay, Miller, Mitchem, Roe, Fitzgerald, Trotter, Foot, Dunham, Horne