PAUL Harding has plenty of food for thought before Weymouth & Portland’s opening Dorset & Wilts Two South test of 2016 at Ellingham & Ringwood Seconds.

Head coach Harding is without a number of first-team regulars going into tomorrow’s showdown (2.15pm), including Joel Wilson.

Prolific try scorer Wilson and siblings Dan and Billy Haine miss the trip to Hampshire through unavailability, while Craig Barter is also a doubt.

Meanwhile, according to Harding, it is looking like the knee injury George Carter sustained before Christmas could keep him out of action for some time.

However, Ryan Lewendon is free to play and forwards Jonathan Mason and Tim Comben return to Weymouth & Portland colours.

Second row Mason has been on the sidelines for seven weeks with a broken hand and strongman competition have taken up prop Comben’s time so far this season.

Tomorrow’s visitors won the reverse fixture between the sides 20-8 last September and Harding’s men remain two points behind leaders Yeovil.

“We’ve got quite a few away this week, which is a bit of a shame,” said the Weymouth & Portland chief. “Joel, Dan and Billy are unavailable, and there are also doubts over whether Craig will be available or not.

“George was injured in our last game and it’s not looking good for him, it could be a long-term one. It’s bad news for us because he has been outstanding this season, probably our standout performer.

“But Jonathan is back from injury and Tim will play for one of the teams this weekend after committing himself to rugby again.”

He continued: Despite being without those players we still have a lot of competition for places, which is pretty encouraging.”

In Harding’s eyes, current frontrunners Yeovil will be the team to beat if his charges want to lift the league title come the end of April.

The two meet at Monmouth Avenue in early March for what has the makings of a possible championship decider, however, there is a lot of rugby to be played between now and then.

“Yeovil are the team in form at the moment,” added Harding. “We need to keep picking up wins and then turn them over when they come to us, but we need to focus on the other games we’ve got between now and then.”

Elsewhere in Two South tomorrow, Bridport host Bournemouth Thirds, Puddletown visit Fordingbridge Seconds and Dorchester Seconds go to New Milton Seconds.

Swanage & Wareham travel to Newbury Blues in South West One East and Dorchester and North Dorset host Devizes and Wimborne respectively in Southern Counties South.

Dorchester Thirds entertain Dorset Dockers Seconds in Three South and Ellingham & Ringwood Thirds go to Weymouth & Portland Seconds in Dorset & Wilts Four.