MARTINSTOWN captain Ed Nichols feels “spirits are high” among his team ahead of their Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League derby with leaders Dorchester at Lower Ashton Farm tomorrow (1pm).

Martinstown have enjoyed an excellent start to their campaign, winning three of their four matches, while Dorchester have impressively won all four of their fixtures, losing just 14 wickets in the process.

However, Martinstown have an unblemished home record against Dorchester since their return to the top tier, something Nichols downplayed as an anomaly.

He told Echosport: “We always call it our biggest game of the season. Everyone’s been looking forward to it since coming off the field at Bere.

“We couldn’t come into it with a much better run of results, so spirits are high. It’s a chance to test ourselves against one of the best sides in the league.

“I think (the record) is one of those anomalies in a way, because they’re a very good side. It doesn’t hurt to have that record but I think it matters an awful lot. Equally, we’ve always lost at theirs.”

Martinstown are without in-form Matt Camp for the clash, while Sean Williams and Jamie Stewart also miss out. Teddy Andrews, Fraser Hill and Sam Hennessey replace the trio.

Meanwhile, Dorchester captain James Dunham is full of respect for Martinstown as his side aims to reinforce last weekend’s impressive victory at Poole with a fifth straight triumph.

He said: “Four out of four is the perfect start, but it’s still a long way to go. If we lose this week it cancels out the hard work we did last weekend.

“Every game is really important, it’s going to be a really tight league. All the teams are capable of beating each other.

“We haven’t won at (Martinstown) since we’ve been promoted to the Premier League – they’re very good at home. It will be an interesting game with some good players on show.”

Dorchester are missing all-rounder Dan Belt and George Foot through unavailability, while Sid Cavallaro drops to the seconds with a niggling injury.

Dunham said: “Dan is a bit of a miss, he’s bowling at good pace and is back in form with the bat.

“Eiron Fitzgerald is up from the seconds, he got 70-odd last week and deserves his chance.”

Will Caldwell and Jack Owens return from unavailability to take the remaining places.

Martinstown: House, Nichols, Kershaw, Andrews, Chase, Maltby, Hennessey, Hill, Kennedy-Barnard, Durant, Read

Dorchester: Q Miller, McKay, Anderson, Mitchem, Caldwell, Owens, Dunham, E Fitzgerald, Richardson, Walklett, Roe

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