WEYMOUTH will be without skipper David Trotter for their Dorset Premier League curtain-raiser at Poole Town tomorrow (1.30pm).

The medium pacer is sidelined with a knee ligament injury, which he suffered in a pre-season friendly at Martinstown a fortnight ago.

Trotter, who took over the captaincy from Dean Janaway in the winter, is due to have a scan today but is hoping to be back in action by the end of May.

He said: “It’s a really frustrating injury because I feel fine in myself. But I’ve tried doing some light jogging and my knee is really sore.

“Hopefully it’s nothing more than a small tear but I should know for sure later today. If all goes well I’m hoping to be back by the end of May, if not earlier.”

Vice-captain Jim Ryall will lead a Seasiders side at Poole Park, which includes three new faces.

Player-coach Sean Fitzgerald makes his debut having joined from Bridport while Pakistani all-rounder Firaz Ulhaq and Indian all-rounder Vijesh Mote also take their bows.

“Sean has been a breath of fresh air as coach,” admitted Trotter, “and the bonus for us is that he remains one of the best top order batsman around.

“Firaz is an all-rounder who is working for the company building the new Weymouth relief road and he’s going to prove a real asset as a middle-order batsman and swing-spin bowler.

“We’ve also picked up Firaz’s Indian work colleague Vijesh Mote, who is another all-rounder, and he’ll also make his debut after Paul Payne declared himself unavaialble. Both lads are excellent acquisitions and the good news is that they have worked in England long enough that they are not classed as overseas players.”

With Poole Park traditionally a bowler’s paradise, a green, seaming track is a certainty tomorrow.

And with Trotter unavailable, there will be plenty of pressure on the young shoulders of Matt Lawes, Dan Hutchens and Rob Nobbs.

Trotter added: “There’s always something in the Poole track for the bowlers and I’d love to have a go myself. But in Matt, Dan and Rob we have three excellent lads and I’m confident they will do the job.

“People might think Poole away is the worse possible start because they are such an organised, talented and well-balanced side.

“But I’d rather have a tough one to start with. We simply couldn’t have worked any harder during the winter and playing a team like Poole is just what we need to test just how far we’ve come.”

Alongside Trotter and Payne, Dorset batsman Ben Lawes is also unavailable as are Andy Bray and Simon Browne, who has football commitments with Poole Town.

Weymouth: Ryall, Janaway, Fitzgerald, Mote, England, Fulton, Ulhaq, Whyte, M Lawes, Nobbs, Hutchens.