WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA and Stanford-le-Hope will be stepping into the unknown when they lock horns for a SNEL Division Three derby tomorrow.

The two sides have not played each other for a number of years but will renew acquaintances at Stanford eager to secure wins.

For third-placed Westcliff it will be the chance to secure a third win of the season and increase pressure at the top of the table.

Stanford, who were relegated from Division Two last summer, will be looking for their second win of the fledgling season as they bid to move up from seventh place.

"I know nothing about them but we-re just going to carry on with the same plan and hopefully perform," said Westcliff captain Chris Gladwin.

"As long as they do that they will be OK.

"You can only ask them to perform and they all really want it this year.

"We've been doing all right and as soon as the 50-over games start, hopefully that's when we will start to show our real strength."

Westcliff have Sam Weller and Lewis Groves unavailable for the trip to Stanford but Charlie Lockhart and Austin Holmes are back for the Chalkwell Park side.

Stanford skipper Matthew Page said: "I think we are both in a similar situation because we've spent the last few years in the division above and don't know much about their current team.

"However, Westcliff have always been historically a good team so it will not be an easy game.

"But it only takes one player to have one of those good games and anything can happen. We will just take every game as it comes and see what happens."

Basildon & Pitsea are among the early pacesetters and are two points behind leaders Old Brentwoods in second place.

The men from Mopsies head to sixth-placed Woodford Green with captain Michael Gray urging them not to rest on their laurels.

"It's great to be up there but we have to keep it up now," he said. "I'm hoping we can get a bit of momentum going.

"Everyone looks like they're capable of beating everyone in the league and I think it's going to be quite tight this year, with no-one running away with it.

"We lost to Old Brentwoods in our first game and they are at the top now, but we should have scored a lot more runs than we did and we know they are beatable."

Benfleet find themselves bottom of the table and still looking for their first win of the season.

A draw away to Walthamstow last week stemmed a run of consecutive defeats.

Skipper Gavin Blowes said the team are looking to build on the stalemate and are treating tomorrow's trip to eighth-placed Ardleigh Green as effectively a new start to the season.

"We were on a bit of a high on Saturday and were quite happy to come away with a draw," said Blowes.

"The aim against Ardleigh Green will be to set some runs and then defend it.

"But we don't know much about them because they were relegated last year."

The Woodside Park team will be light because opener bowlers Paul Frensham and Chris Coldicott plus batsman Rob Zammit are unavailable.

"It will be up to everyone else to step up to the plate," Blowes added.