STUART Heath believes that dropping to second place could relieve some of the pressure on his title-chasing Blues.

Portland United relinquished top spot in the Magna Dorset Premier League last weekend after being held to a goalless draw by Holt United and seeing reigning champions Ham-worthy Recreation defeat fellow high-fliers Wincanton Town.

However, with just goal difference separating the two sides, the island chief remains positive.

Heath, whose side visit Poole Borough tomorrow (3pm), said: “We have got as good a chance as anyone to lift this title.

“It’s important that we stay in the mix because you never know what will happen in the next 13 games.

“As long as we are there or thereabouts then we have always got a chance.

“We have dropped to second but perhaps it might take a bit of pressure off the players.

“We had been top for a long time so hopefully we’ll only be second for a brief amount of time.”

The Blues produced a spirited display in midweek against higher-ranked Dor-chester Town – suffering extra-time heartache in their Dorset Senior Cup semi-final tie.

And Heath may be forced to make changes in order to keep his players as fresh as possible.

Lewis Whyton, Alex Grimason, Ben Skelton and Adam Linaker are all expected to return to the fold while one possible addition could be Swanage Town & Herston’s Liam Currell, with Heath hopeful of completing a move for the 18-goal forward.

Chickerell United are expected to welcome back talismanic forward Nick Etherington for their trip to Merley Cobham Sports (3pm).

The Chickens were without several players for last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Swanage Town & Herston and boss Maurice Welch is keeping his fingers crossed a couple more will also return.

He said: “Nick should be back and I am also hopeful that we might be able to include Joel Protheroe and Jack Robinson as well.

“Unfortunately, Scott Hen-ley is away, as is Dan Welch, while Stew Walbridge is a doubt again due to university.

“It will be another opportunity for some of the youngsters coming through to gain some experience as we continue to look to rebuild for next season.

“We are very much a work in progress and if we can finish in the top six and keep bringing players on it will be an encouraging season for us.

“There have been rumours going around that we might pull out of the Dorset Premier League next season but after having met with the club, they have assured me they want to continue with both teams, with the reser-ves once again playing in the Dorset Senior League.

“We are currently looking to bring more players in and with some tough games coming up there is still a lot to work on.”

Bridport Reserves will be keen to batten down the hatches at fourth-bottom Cranborne (3pm) after conceding 11 goals in their last two games.

The Bees suffered a 6-2 mauling at the hands of Tintinhull last weekend, which came off the back of a 5-2 home defeat against reigning champions Hamw-orthy Recreation.

Joint-boss Steve Crabb said: “We were more disappointed with the scoreline against Hamworthy Recreation as we felt it flattered them a bit but last week at Tintinhull it was more about the display.

“I think it was just a bad day at the office and hopefully we can put it behind us this weekend by bouncing back at Cranborne, where we may change the system.

“We have been playing an attacking 3-5-2 but perhaps we need to tighten things up a bit, which is something we have been looking at.”

Elsewhere, Weymouth Reserves return to action as fellow strugglers Shaftesbury visit the Bob Lucas Stadium (3pm).