WEYMOUTH & Portland co-coach Simon Litster has described the Seahorses’ daunting trip to Dorset Dockers as a “tough task” ahead of their Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts One South tussle tomorrow.

Litster’s men have enjoyed an improved season after pulling off a miraculous escape of relegation at the end of the previous campaign.

The Seahorses currently lie in fourth, level on 30 points with Oakmeadians in third, but face a Dockers side tied with Swanage & Wareham at the top after the Swans prevailed 30-21 in their table-topping clash last time out.

Last season, Dockers won 87-0 in the corresponding fixture against a weakened Weymouth, but Litster believes shoots of promise were shown in a 53-19 loss to the Christchurch side in September.

He told Echosport: “It’s not the nicest of trips. I remember last season going up there and them putting (87) points on us.

“We had very much a makeshift team and there was a blizzard blowing across the pitch, so it was a pretty awful day all round.

“When we played them at home this season we pushed them in the first 20 minutes, no problem. It’s just that they love playing this open, expansive game, offloads and running rugby.

“Teams that play against them need to have an organised defence and our defence since we played them has probably improved. I’d be surprised if we don’t put a couple of tries on them.

“But it’s a tough task going up there, it’s not an easy venue to play at. There’s a pretty severe slope down one corner of the pitch.”

Only Billy and Dan Hayne miss the match through unavailability.