Portland United will be hoping to make Graham Kemp's life a misery when he returns to the island with his Lymington and New Milton side tomorrow, kick-off 3pm.

The former Blues defender is now in charge of the Linnets and counterpart Nick Preston is determined to get one over on his old playing colleague.

"Kempy and I go back a few years," said United's player boss, "and I'm sure he'll receive a warm welcome from Blues supporters tomorrow. But come 3 o'clock the hand-shakes will stop and hopefully we can make it a miserable return for him on the park.

"Graham's put together a good squad of players up at Lymington and I'm sure they'll be up there in the shake-up come the end of the season. But we did alright when we played them up at their place earlier in season and I thought we were a bit unlucky to go down by a single goal."

The Blues go into the contest on the back of an impressive Jewson Wessex League run which has seen them take points off title-chasing Brokenhurst and Andover at Grove Corner.

But if the islanders are to keep the sequence going, they'll have to do it without star striker James Reeve.

Preston explained: "Unfortunately Revo's not available because of a family engagement up country and that's a big blow because he's just beginning to get back to his best.

"But on the plus side Mark Fitch is okay again following suspension and I'm confident that he'll be hungry and determined enough to come back in and make one of those attacking spots his own."

Preston has resisted the temptation to name his starting 11 early and will instead wait until just before kick-off. But he does have plenty of options available with defenders Alan Rodgers and Scott Dennis back in connection after missing that 1-1 draw with Andover.

"I've not yet decided what I'll do", the manager said. "Obviously players like Alan and Scott have been regulars this season and so I will consider my options carefully. But I've enough confidence in all of the lads to know they'll do a good job and if we can continue the way we've been going in recent weeks then

I'd fancy our chances of revenge."

Meanwhile the Blues will get their first look at Lymington's prolific marksman Leigh Phillips tomorrow. The one-time Dorchester target is back amongst the goals having served a 90-day ban earlier in the campaign.

Portland squad: Myers, Rodgers, Perkins, Wallis, Kenway, Turrell, A Skelton, Evans, Greeno, Whalley, Carter, Whyton, Fitch, Dennis, Dailey.