WEYMOUTH captain Harry Mitchell is aiming to catch Hamworthy Recreation “off guard” when the Seasiders open their County Division One campaign at Redlands tomorrow (1.30pm).

Hamworthy were well-placed to clinch top spot and the sole promotion slot last season only to suffer a late dip in form, as Christchurch marched into the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.

And, with no previous form in 2019 to speak of, Mitchell is hoping to cause an upset against a side he describes as the “best in the league”.

He said: “They were really unlucky not to go up last year. It’s a good time to play the best team in the league, we get them out of the way early at home.

“Maybe catch them off guard and hopefully some of them will be away because it’s Bank Holiday. A few things can play in our favour.”

Weymouth achieved promotion on the final day of the 2018 season, rebounding immediately from relegation in 2017.

Mitchell said: “Being relegated two years ago a few people could have drifted away and waited until we built a good team again.

“Credit to all of them who stayed with it and got us straight back up, especially Jack Sapsworth and Dom Webb living up to their potential.”

The Seasiders finished second in the Clayesmore Sunday Indoor league before a pre-season friendly loss to Portland and a win over Puddletown.

However, a raft of first-team players will miss the opening competitive fixture of the year, with batsmen Simon Browne and John Wilson, bowlers Sami Rathnayake and Lloyd Beals, all-rounders Johnny Armfield and Neil Walton plus wicketkeeper-batsman Kieron Womble all absent.

Matt Lawes returns to the side after a spell in Australia, while Sahil Dalvi is expected to make his first-team debut after impressing during the Clayesmore tournament.

Weymouth (from): Mitchell, Lawes, Dalvi, Ryan, Puckett, Webb, J Sapsworth, Collins, Urumancheri, England, Blackman, Guyett.