DORCHESTER Sports and Balti Sports will renew rivalries tomorrow in their Dorset Premier League derby at the Avenue Stadium (3pm).

Last season, Balti enjoyed the better results against their old foes, taking four points in their two league contests.

That effort came in response to the 2021/22 season when Dorch Sports claimed the double over Marco Nott’s men.

Dorchester Sports finished third and seventh in those two campaigns, while Balti have begun a rejuvenation after managing only eighth and 15th.

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They currently reside in seventh place, ahead of Ashley James’ men by two places and five points.

And James is all too aware of Balti’s rebooted squad this season, telling Echosport: “Our home form has been pretty decent apart from the Blandford game.

“But form goes out of the window in these sorts of games and it will be who’s up for it the most. It will be a battle and whoever wins the battle I imagine will win the game.

“We’ve got to match them because we know what they bring, and they do bring it every game against us.

“We’re in for a tough afternoon but hopefully with the quality we’ve got it will start to click soon and we can get a positive result.”

He added: “They’ve signed some good players on and have got good numbers, which is positive for them.

“Fair play for sticking at it and creating another good squad. They’ll be happy with what they’ve done and we’re happy with what we’ve done.

“Unfortunately, it isn’t quite clicking on a consistent basis but the signs are there and once we bed the new players in with a similar team line-up, I’m sure we’ll start picking results up.”

Nott meanwhile believes his new-look side will be fearless going into the derby.

He said: “It’s one we can relish because they’re not scarred from previous years and it’s a fairly young group.

“They’re all going into the games looking forward to them, playing in stadiums and nice grounds.

“We’ve got a few players with derby experience but it’s a fresh approach with our lads. It’s almost like it’s a new team, they’ve all got that bounce.

“We’ll let them know the magnitude of this game and what the derby means but we just want them to enjoy it. Whoever’s enjoying their job naturally plays better.

“So, if we play well we’ve got a chance of getting three points.”

For the hosts, Liam O’Shaughnessy serves the final game of a three-match ban, while Josh Pratt returns. Josh Camp has moved back to Portland United Reserves.

Balti are waiting on the fitness of goalkeeper Harrison Wallis (knee), while Fin Jarvis (shin) is a doubt. Derek Wall should be fit and skipper Aston Butcher returns.