DORCHESTER welcome nearest rivals Weymouth & Portland to Surcouf Park for the long-awaited ‘Ridgeway Rumble’ derby tomorrow (3pm).

This Counties One Tribute Southern South fixture is the first in the league between the two sides in three years, both sides winning the Counties Two Dorset & Wilts South title in that time.

Dorchester have picked up three wins and a draw from their first six fixtures, while Weymouth & Portland have taken just one win.

League positions aside, this will be a highly contested match for local bragging rights alongside the points on offer.

Add into the mix several former Dorchester players including James Baker, James Newsam and Lewis Allan now running out for the visitors, this makes it a local derby like no other in recent years.

READ MORE: Corsham 0-33 Dorchester - report

Dorchester’s captain, Steve Tucker, will be keen to keep the momentum going for the Green & Whites with a full-strength squad.

Characteristically leading from the front, he will make sure his team keeps focused and disciplined for the full 80 minutes.

Director of rugby, Martin Oxland, is hoping to keep any changes to a minimum to the matchday squad.

Jamie Morgan and Tom Louch are back in contention having shown fine form before two weeks of enforced absence.

Oxland said: “The group are becoming more comfortable in what the coaching group have been trying to develop. This has shown in our last two performances.

“The coaching team continually speak about being able to adapt our game, and this weekend will require us to do just that against a competitive Weymouth side.

“If we can deliver an 80-minute performance and play with the confidence and physicality we have shown in the last two fixtures, then I am certain we can rise to the challenge of a local derby and all that can add to this match.”

Meanwhile, Weymouth & Portland boss Rich Bament, a former Dorchester coach, feels the Seahorses have zero pressure on their shoulders despite a run of five defeats.

READ MORE: Weymouth & Portland 0-38 Swanage & Wareham - report

He told Echosport: “It’s a good one to get going again with a local derby, but there’s just no pressure on us at all.

“If you look at the league table where we are and where Dorchester are, Dorchester are expected to win. They think they’ll win and the club think they’ll win.

“So, it’s up to us to go there and put on a performance and hopefully get a result.

“We’ll just play what’s in front of us and I dare say we’ll be trying to right the wrongs from last Saturday.”

Tim Comben and Ryan Llewendon are fit but Joe Gibson (broken hand) misses out for six weeks after surgery.

Tomorrow is also the first this season of Dorchester's lunches for the vice-president and former players, while Dorchester A entertain Ellingham & Ringwood Thirds in Counties Three Tribute Dorset & Wilts.

Dorchester Gladiators also host Swanage & Wareham Thirds in a friendly on a bumper day of rugby at Surcouf Park.

Post-match, England’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa will be shown in the clubhouse, with an Oktoberfest theme for the evening.