DORCHESTER captain Dan Belt warned Poole Park is not an “easy place to win” at as his side prepares for a crunch clash with Poole Town tomorrow (1pm).

The Dorset Premier League’s second-placed team travels to the club in third with just nine points separating them.

In the previous three seasons, the two sides have almost exclusively battled for the title but this year Wimborne are the pacesetters – unbeaten after ten games.

And Belt is conscious that Dorchester cannot afford to drop points on what could be a huge weekend in the title race.

He told Echosport: “It’s certainly a game where you don’t want to be dropping points at this stage in the season, especially when you’re chasing a team.

“Poole are not too far behind us but we’re obviously going into it full of confidence and it’s a place you want to go and win.

“It’s not an easy place to win at but we’re looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Jamie Barrett returns after an ankle injury, replacing the unavailable Eral Anderson.

Dorchester: Ryall, Mitchem, Rajendar, Carty, Peak, Belt, Barrett, Legg, Owens, Dunham, Nobbs.

Dorchester Seconds host County Division Two leaders Beaminster, while Dorchester Thirds entertain unbeaten Division Six leaders Weymouth Seconds (both tomorrow 1.30pm).

Bere Regis will hope to gain points on the losers at Poole Park when they host Martinstown tomorrow (1pm).

Brian Keegan’s men are fourth in the table, 28 points behind Poole and 34 ahead of Martinstown.

With a history of acrimonious fixtures between the sides, the previous match this season was played in good spirits as Bere won by 80 runs.

Heading into this weekend, Keegan is looking to halt a mini run of poor form.

He said: “On the back of two losses, hopefully it’s third time lucky. Looking at their results this year they’re blowing very much hot and cold.

“Them losing to Puddletown last week, I didn’t see that coming so we’ll be wary of the threat they bring.

“Ultimately, we have to sort ourselves out, disappointing at Dorchester and Wimborne. The result is all-important, which will be our focus.”

Opposing co-skipper Charlie Durant is hoping to improve what has been an up and down season so far.

Town lost by seven wickets to Puddletown last time out and Durant is keen to make amends.

He said: “I was hoping we could get off to a good start for the second half of the season last week – it didn’t transpire that way.

“If we put it out of our minds this week and forget about it, we can move on.”

On Bere, he added: “They’re a strong side and basically where we want to be in that top-three, top-four kind of area.

“They know how to get results a lot more than we do through experience.”

Bere’s Sean Walbridge (shin) is out for the season, while Rich Payne and Dean Rogerson miss out. Pete Macklin and Matt King come back in.

Matt Rimmer and Lee House miss out as Charlie Andrews and Nathan McNab come in.

Bere: M King, Rich Cole, Russell, S Goodhew, Robertson, T Goodhew, Murphy, Munnings, P Macklin, Crompton, Keegan.

Martinstown: Nichols, F Williams, S Williams, R Gerety, Kershaw, Blair, C Andrews, McNab, Je Stewart, Durant, Coombs.

Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne

Bere first & second XI match ball sponsor: Bere Regis Chapel

In County Division Three, Bere Regis Seconds visit Abbotsbury, while Martinstown Seconds host bottom side Hamworthy Rec Seconds (both tomorrow 1.30pm).

Meanwhile, Puddletown are targeting a hat-trick of Premier League wins when they entertain leaders Wimborne at Plush tomorrow (1pm).

Adam Barrett’s men are in buoyant mood after beating Broadstone and Martinstown in consecutive games.

However, the Puddle skipper is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing them tomorrow.

He said: “It’s without doubt going to be one of the hardest games of the season.

“They beat us quite comfortably at their place and at this point they’re still unbeaten in the league, so they’ve got to be treated as the favourites to go on and win it.

“We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing in the last few weeks, keep this positive approach to the game.

“You never know, cricket can be a funny game sometimes and we might even surprise ourselves. We’re going to try and do ourselves justice and give them a good game.”

Lucas Allen, Gordon Wint and Rob Snow miss out but Adam Weir, Callum Chaldecott and Steve Chaldecott come in.

Puddletown: Barrett, Weir, Mitchell, C Chaldecott, Ry Norman, Re Norman, S Chaldecott, J Morris, D Morris, Eastment, Knight.

In County Division One, Portland Red Triangle visit Wimborne & Colehill Seconds looking to post their second consecutive away win.

Triangle beat Compton House on their last trip but will be without skipper Matt Randell for family reasons this week.

And after dropping nine catches in the five-wicket loss to Swanage last time out, Randell is clear where improvements need to be made.

He said: “There’s no reason why we can’t look to get a top-three or four finish come the end of the year.

“That’s a realistic goal for us now and that will start from (tomorrow) trying to build some momentum going into those final games.

“We need to have a look at our fielding and work on that. The biggest thing with the catching is that awareness of just wanting balls to come to you.

“If we carry on fielding like we did then we’re not going to win any more games. It’s a big area to address.”

Portland are without Andy West and Mark Russell in addition to Randell, while Ryan Price will skipper the side with assistance from Simon Proffitt.

Callan Laws, Jon Cameron, Rich Samuels and James Potts all come in.

Portland (from): Proffitt, Laws, M Barrett, I Russell, Price, Cameron, Samuels, Forshaw, Potts, J Adkins, Edwards, J Marsh.

Portland Red Triangle Seconds host Stalbridge Development in County Division Five tomorrow (1.30pm).

Finally, Weymouth are hunting their fourth victory in five games when they tackle rising stars Chalke Valley at Redlands tomorrow (1.30pm).

Weymouth have jumped into fourth courtesy of their good form, while Chalke lie one point adrift of leaders Beaminster.

However, Chalke inflicted a six-wicket defeat on the Seasiders in the reverse fixture and Weymouth skipper Harry Mitchell is full of respect for the current Division Three champions.

He said: "We're going into the game with zero pressure on us.

"We're looking to carry on the momentum, we've won our last two games convincingly and we're going out to enjoy our cricket.

"Chalke Valley are a really good side, they've proven that with bat and ball and some of their results.

"Obviously in the T20 Cup they're in the final, beating some established Premier League clubs in the process.

"We know it's going to be a difficult game, a hard game, but they've got to come here and keep winning.

"We had a good chat just before the halfway point of where we are, where we can improve.

"The top of the order was somewhere we really did need to change it up, take an aggressive approach.

"That's going to continue with Lloyd (Beals) opening. We're a better team when we're out striking the ball rather than trying to bat longer periods.

"Some days it's not going to come off and we're going to look quite silly, but like last week we can put on some huge partnerships and put the other team under the pump."

Weymouth: Mitchell, Beals, England, J Sapsworth, P Sapsworth, Somaratne, Urumancheri, Hoyes, Guyett, Townley, AN Other.