DAVID Trotter is backing Weymouth to produce the goods against Ferndown Wayfarers at Redlands tomorrow (1.30pm).

The club stalwart, who is currently sidelined through injury, is confident that a sharp improvement at the top of the batting order coupled with a consistent line and length from the frontline bowlers will see the Seasiders claim their maiden victory of the campaign.

With the club going through somewhat of a transition period, the aim this season is survival and despite losing their curtain-raiser to heavyweights Poole Town and seeing last week’s game at Blandford abandoned due to rain, there have been encouraging signs.

However, Trotter is fully aware of the side’s shortcomings and is not afraid to air them in a bid for a positive response.

He said: “The top order need to lay the building blocks to enable a good score and to have wickets in hand at the close of the innings to allow the swing of the bat.

“Also, the bowling needs to improve, we are taking wickets but in some cases at a high run-rate.

“We gave away a large number of extras last week and it is not just the wides that hurt us but it is the additional balls as well.

“We must have given Blandford in the region of 80 runs and that is clearly not acceptable at this level.

“The bowlers are aware of that and know they need to make the batsman play by bowling line and length.”

Simon Browne and Will McKay will both miss the Dorset Premier League clash for Weymouth with Michael Pearce and Tom England returning to fill the gaps.

And availability is another issue Trotter feels needs to be addressed throughout the whole club. He said: “We are struggling to put out consistent teams due to unavailabilities each week and this of course has a knock-on effect in terms of competition for places.

“Even if someone isn’t performing, they are pretty much safe at the moment and that is not a healthy situation.

“The only way to improve in any form of sport is to be competitive or play with players of a higher standard. Hopefully, when several people return from university and injury, we will be better placed to put together far more competitive teams.”

Ferndown Wayfarers also saw their home game against Wimborne & Colehill abandoned last week, leaving them to stew even longer on their alarming collapse at Broad-stone on the opening day where they were skittled all out for just 45 in a nine-wicket defeat.

Weymouth: England, Janaway, M Lawes, Payne, Ryall, Womble, J Armfield, Ulhaq, M Pearce, Hutchens, Nobbs.

n Following last week’s postponements, Weymouth Seconds and Weymouth Thirds will also be out to claim their first victories of the season tomorrow at Winton in Division One and Suttoners in Division Four respectively (both 2pm).

Weymouth Seconds: Fitzgerald, J Trevett, Carrington, Bowden, Monk, Puckett, C Armfield, Guyett, A Sterling, Guest, Sears.

Weymouth Thirds: Johnson, Mason, Batchelor, Mitchell, Richards, Parsons, Ster-ling, Perrett, Townley, J Croker, J Rose, S Rose.