HASLEMERE face a major test of their ability to improve on recent disappointing seasons when they travel to promotion favourites Godalming this Saturday.

Godalming, captained by former Frensham batsman Shaun Hopkinson and with their attack strengthened by ex-Guildford and Farnham paceman Danny Coldicott, have outstripped their Surrey near-neighbours in recent years.

While Haslemere have narrowly escaped relegation for two successive seasons, Godalming have twice been pipped for promotion to the Surrey Championship.

However, Haslemere are showing signs of coming out of the doldrums and new skipper Andy Hastilow was encouraged by the win at Roehampton two weeks ago, following the defeat at Cobham on the opening day of the Fullers Surrey League season. Rain washed out the home game with Old Pauline last Saturday.

"We've got a few promising new players and I'm confident we can improve on last year," said Hastilow.

The formidably large Hastilow has made a name for himself in the county as a mighty striker of the ball, but says he has adapated his game for the good of the side. "I'm much more defensive these days," insists the man who has probably hit more sixes than any other Haslemere batsman.

His main concern lies with the square at the Recreation Ground which was completely ripped up and re-laid during the winter. "A square normally needs much more time to bed in, but we are having to use it straight away, and that's not an ideal situation. It looks awful, ridges all over the place, but perhaps it plays better than it looks because our seconds won by nine wickets on it the other day."

The departure of all-rounder Graham Boxall – now domiciled in Australia – left a large hole to fill, but Haslemere look to have a good balance in the side this season.

During his long tenure as captain, Kym Hooker batted himself well down the order. Hastilow has changed all that, asking Hooker to open, and the veteran responded with 70 in the win against Roehampton. He has also bought himself a complete new kit!

Hooker opens with Lee Clement, with the prolific- scoring Kevin Gray batting at number three and newcomer Matt Scaife coming in at four.

The hard-hitting Scaife has made a stack of runs for the village side, Ebernoe, and Haslemere are hoping he takes the step-up to club cricket in his stride.

With Hastilow and Kiwi all-rounder Kenton Currie to follow, and plenty of batting down to eight or nine, Haslemere have the armoury to make big scores.

They lack a bowler of genuine pace, but Carl Cobbold can be destructive on his day and young Lee Thayre lookes a good prospect on his promotion from the seconds. Hastilow has plenty of options with his medium-pacers. Neil Dodson, Dave Boxall, Kevin Gray and James Macaulay are all tried and tested, while Lee Clement can turn the ball both ways.

Hastilow added: "There's competition for places – that makes a change – and the attendance at nets has been very encouraging, with some 28 players turning up instead of the usual nine or ten."

l Haslemere's home match against Guildford in the Flora Doris Cup was postponed on Tuesday. It will now be played next Tuesday (May 27).