LEADERS Dorchester visit reigning champions Broadstone tomorrow (1.30pm) without influential captain Martyn Richards.
The county town man is away on holiday but stand-in skipper Rob Waite is confident Dorchester can retain their place at the top of the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League in his absence.
He said: "It's going to be a challenge for us and for myself as captain. We'll miss Martyn because he's a big personality but we've got enough quality in the side to go and win the game.
"We'll have to play close to our best for that to happen because Broadstone have lots of good players. This is the first time we will have played one of the top three from last year so it could prove to be a good indicator for us."
Dorchester beat Wimborne & Colehill by 85 runs last Saturday while Broadstone suffered a second successive defeat, losing to Blandford by six wickets.
And although the county town side enjoyed a comprehensive victory against Blandford on the opening day, Waite isn't taking the form book into consideration.
He added: "Their defeats have surprised a lot of people in the division but I think the league is going to be quite open this year.
"I won't be reading too much into the results because they may have had players missing.
"They are the reigning champions and have enough quality to beat teams, so we won't be taking them lightly.
"Hopefully though, we will be able to make it three defeats in a row for them."
Spin bowler Adam Iyer returns to the Dorchester line-up after missing the win over Wimborne & Colehill while Ollie Bennett comes in for the absent Richards.
Waite said: "We are lucky to have Adam back, having a quality spinner in your side always helps. Ollie is a decent batsman and fielder so we're keeping the quality we have had all season and I'm confident in the two of them."
Dorchester: Waite, Haynes, Gerety, Moxom, Tweddle, Belt, Dunnett, Iyer, Langford, Bennett, Morley.
* Dorchester Seconds host Wim-borne & Colehill Seconds at the Rec tomorrow (2pm) in Dorset Funeral Plan Division Two aiming to record their third win of the campaign.
Meanwhile, the county town's third team are also at home, to Bradford Abbas in Division Eight, looking to maintain their unbeaten record and overtake leaders Gillingham at the same time.
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