WEYMOUTH & Portland head coach Rich Bament is bullish about his side’s chances in the Counties One Tribute Southern South this season.

The Seahorses travel to Avonvale tomorrow after winning the Counties Two Tribute Dorset & Wilts South (C2TD&W) title last season.

They are among quality company and will meet the likes of Yeovil, Dorchester and Sherborne this season plus 2022’s C2TD&W champions North Dorset.

However, Bament insists Weymouth & Portland are not merely there to make up the numbers and is confident his squad can be “comfortable” playing at the higher level.

He told Echosport: “It will certainly be a test but we won’t be going there looking to survive.

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“We’ll be going there looking at it and thinking we can have a comfortable season.

“There’s a Southern Counties feel to it and not so many easy games as there was.

“There will be some tough encounters but we’ve kept the majority of the squad together with some new additions, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it all goes.”

Asked how far his side can scale the table this season, Bament replied: “I’m hoping mid-table, minimum.

“I’d love for it to be higher, but we have to be realistic. We’ve got a small squad and we know which games we’re going to target.

“It’s all about the guys going out there proving they can play at that level and they deserve to be there.

“They’ve had three good years at the level we were at before and we’re taking a step up, I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s ten years since Weymouth were last in that league. We’ll be coming across teams who we know, but we haven’t played the likes of Sherborne and Walcot for many a year.

“They won’t know what to expect. We’re sticking to the same gameplan we’ve always played and hopefully we can spring some surprises.

“We’re under no illusions there will be some tough games. Sherborne, who’ve come down, are always a tough nut to crack.

“Now you’ve got the local derby with Dorchester as well.”

Ralph Green is Weymouth’s sole absentee but the Seahorses are boosted by the returns of Ryan Lewendon, Reece Makin and Finn Pitman from Yeovil.

Former Cardiff Met fly-half Dwayne Griffiths has also joined the Seahorses.

Elsewhere on the opening day, Dorchester host Swanage & Wareham and North Dorset visit Combe Down.

The tier below does not commence until Saturday, September 16.