WEYMOUTH & Portland head coach Paul Harding is set to make a number of changes for tomorrow’s clash with Ellingham & Ringwood Seconds at Monmouth Avenue (3pm).

Flanker George Carter, lock Jonathan Mason and props Lian Berry and Ade Walker all come into the squad for the first time this term, as does Carl Neal.

Neal makes his Dorset & Wilts Two South debut for the seaside outfit after making the switch from football during the summer.

Harding is looking forward to seeing what Neal can do this weekend having been impressed with what he has witnessed so far.

“Carl has converted from football and looks a really good player,” he said. “I watched him play for the seconds and he is a bit of a natural.

“He is not a big lad but he is really quick and quite solid in defence.

“I think he had a few concerns when he started about rugby being a bit too physical.

“But I really do think he is going to be a good player, and he has got pace to burn.”

He added: “But it’s not just his pace.

“We used a drone in training to look at the sessions from above and you can see his tracking and how he fills in spaces.

“Some players will be stagnant and just wait for the ball but he is on his toes and organising things as well.

“He said he learnt the laws by watching rugby on the television!”

Harding is without Ryan Lewendon, James Borrington and Duncan Bezzant tomorrow, but Joe Gibson lines up in the back row again after a superb display at Poole last Saturday.

“It’s looking like we’ll be close to full strength,” added Harding. “We’re looking a lot stronger up front than last week.

“The guys did well last week but those coming in are more established first XV players.

"I'm pretty happy with the side we are going to put out this weekend."

Speaking about opponents Ellingham & Ringwood, he continued: “Ellingham dispatched Puddletown comfortably in their first game so it’s going to be a tough match for us.

“I don’t know too much about them but we just have to concentrate on our own game.

"The pace of our backs was great against Poole and when we moved the ball wide we looked very dangerous, so we'll want to do that again tomorrow."

Meanwhile, in Dorset & Wilts Four, Weymouth & Portland Seconds kick-off their season away to East Dorset Seconds (3pm).

TOMORROW sees Dorchester travel to Devizes for coach Paul Dunne’s first Southern Counties South away game in charge of the county town team (3pm).

Despite going down 25-3 to Midsomer Norton last weekend, Dunne wasn’t too downhearted with his side’s performance, while Devizes comfortably saw off Wimborne at home.

While the first XV go to Wiltshire, the club’s other senior teams make full use of Coburg Road.

The seconds host New Milton Seconds in Dorset & Wilts Two South and the thirds entertain Dinton in Three South.

Also in Two South, Fordingbridge Seconds visit Puddletown and Bridport go to Bournemouth Thirds.

Bridport Seconds host Wincanton in their opening Dorset & Wilts Four fixture.

Elsewhere, up in South West One East, Swanage & Wareham try for a first win of the campaign at home to Newbury Blues.