PORTLAND Red Triangle captain Matt Randell says there is no pressure of pushing for promotion, as he readies his side to visit Hamworthy Recreation in County Division One tomorrow (1.30pm).

Portland lost at home to Cattistock last weekend, which gave the victors a 30-point lead at the top of the table, and Randell says they will have to do something silly for another team to have a chance.

Randell told Echosport: “It will be nice to just get out there now, no pressure on us at all really. We are probably going to be looking for a top-three finish now, so there is no real pressure on pushing for that promotion now.

“I mean after Saturday’s game Cattistock have pretty much got that in the bag, they would have to do something really silly now to give anyone else a look in, so it might be a good opportunity for us to actually start playing some good cricket throughout a whole game as opposed to just small spells.

“Throughout the season we have played some really good spells of cricket, we have had 10 overs go our way with the bat, 10 overs go our way with the ball just in various different blocks, but we have never really put together a whole performance together yet.”

Portland are beset with numerous absences, with Sam Mihell, Simon Proffitt, Joe Adkins, Callan Laws, Matt Barrett and Ollie Whisker are absent. In their place Portland bring in Ryan Price, Rob Townley, Andrew Randell, Chris Leake, Liam Riley and Cameron Midgley.

Portland: Emery, Leake, Price, M Randell, Theakstone, Midgley, Samuels, A Randell, S Barrett, Townley, Riley