PORTLAND United boss Brendon King believes Hamble Club will be aiming for payback in their Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division clash at the Weyline Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

King’s men beat the Southampton-based side 2-0 in October as Jamie Beasley and Bailey Rowe got on the scoresheet.

Hamble have since gone on a superb run of five wins from seven games to lay claim to second place in the league.

Hamble’s status means the Blues will have played leaders Alresford – beating them 5-0 – and the second-placed side in consecutive weeks.

Speaking to Echosport, King said: “They’re all coming thick and fast and (we’re) playing the team that’s second who are on a really good run.

“We beat them earlier in the season up there and, to be fair, we were really good that night.

“It was actually quite a good game of football, quite end-to-end, quite physical.

“They’ve got some old experienced players but they’ve been chucking a few young ones in as well – similar to what we’re doing.

“They’re going to be looking for a little bit of revenge, I would’ve thought.”

Portland, in fifth, could go above Hamble with victory. King added: “I’m not a big one for looking at league tables this time of year – there’s so much football to be played, especially Christmas and New Year.”

Beasley, Alex Halloran and Luke King return but Ryan McKechnie (shin) and Sam Buckler (groin) are out.