WEYMOUTH & Portland face a front row dilemma ahead of their opening Dorset & Wilts Two South game of the season at Poole tomorrow (3pm).

Head coach Paul Harding is without the services of four props this weekend, while the first XV chief is also down a hooker due to unavailability.

Harding feels he has “potentially got a cracking side” but the current problems in the pack means a far from ideal start to the new campaign.

“We are struggling,” he admitted. “We’ve got four props and a hooker away for Saturday’s game.

“We had a good win in a friendly against Swanage & Wareham Seconds last weekend but had to play uncontested scrums as we had a lot of unavailability in the front row.

“We’ve had a really good summer and there has been between 25 and 40 players at every training session.

“On paper we have potentially got a cracking side but there are a number of players away at the moment.”

The seasiders have lost Steve Nation-Grainger and Jake Guildford from last season’s squad but scrum-half Craig Barter returns.

Harding has also picked up a few new faces during pre-season that he is looking forward to seeing perform in the league.

He added: “It’s just a question of making sure they are all available as the front row situation is a real dilemma for us this week.

“I would expect us to be in the running for promotion provided we have got the availability.

“That’s what we are looking for and I think we’ve got the potential to do that if we get them all on the park.”

Also in Two South, Bridport kick-off with a home fixture against newly-promoted Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew (3pm).

New club captain Tom Gamwell is pleased with how pre-season training has gone alongside Gareth Tomson, the RFU county coach for West Dorset.

Meanwhile, Puddletown visit Ellingham & Ringwood Seconds (3pm).

In South West One East, Swanage & Wareham, thrashed at home by Towcestrians last week, face their first away trip of the campaign tomorrow when they travel to Maidenhead.

As the Swans were losing 59-3 on the opening day of the season, the Berkshire outfit were beating High Wycombe 22-17.