BOTH Steve Coward and Steve Reynolds have been in the game long enough to know there is no such thing in football as a sure thing.

And they will be adopting that philosophy again this weekend when their teams face the two worst sides in the Dorset Premier League.

Coward’s Chickerell United relinquished top spot and their unbeaten record last Saturday when losing to South Cheriton and will look to make amends tomorrow when they host Kingston Lacy (2pm) at the Stalls.

Kingston Lacy, one off the bottom of the league, have won just once all season and lost eight of their 11 fixtures – Corfe Mullen put 10 past them in October.

The Chickens are without the in-form Dan Welch and Rafael Martin Perez for the match but welcome back Joel Warren, Josh Why and Liam Coles, while Steve Lambert may be back too.

And Coward wants to see a response to the reverse at South Cheriton last time out.

“It was never in our plans at the start of the season to stay undefeated and now that has gone it’s time to move on,” said the Chickerell boss .

“Hopefully we can pick ourselves up after Saturday and go again against Kingston Lacy.

“We know what we have got to do and it’s down to us to make sure we get things right.”

Okeford United are two points worse off than Chickerell’s opponents but Upwey & Broadwey boss Reynolds won’t be taking them lightly at the Recreation Ground tomorrow (2pm).

Upwey would have started last weekend’s game at Sturminster Newton with 10 men if it hadn’t been for the signing of Lewis Ironside minutes before kick-off.

Things should be a little calmer for Reynolds at Okeford, though he is sweating on the fitness of captain Phil Anderson.

“We should get a result up there but you can’t take anything for granted when you go away from home,” he said.

“We are only three points off second place and there is still such a long way to go.

“We’ve got to play the sides in the top half of the table and if we can beat Okeford it will give us a good start for the next run of games.

“Sam Purnell will definitely be back but Nathan Aston isn’t available so it could be a bit of mix and match again.”

Portland United Reserves’ chief Chris Hicks has a few injury concerns of his own ahead of the home clash with Corfe Mullen United (2pm).

Steve Churchill is struggling and could be out for a few weeks but Josh Burton, who tweaked a hamstring at Okeford, should be okay.

“Corfe are a tough side and they have had a couple of good results recently,” said Hicks.

“We haven’t played them yet this season so we’ll have to see how it goes.

“Our first team have got three players suspended so we will inevitably lose a couple of lads to them.”