MANAGER Michael Cuffie believes his Christchurch players will be out to prove wrong predecessor Graham Kemp when they host Winchester City tonight (7.45pm).

Kemp, Priory's most successful manager, left Hurn Bridge to take the City hotseat in the summer with key quartet Ben Osborne, Russell Cook, Dan Thompson and Karl Yelland - who will all feature in Kemp's squad - following suit.

But after a strong start to the season, Cuffie reckons Christchurch's senior stars will be determined to demonstrate why they should have been snapped up for Kemp's promotion push ahead of the mouth-watering showdown.

Cuffie told the Daily Echo: “Inwardly, I think the guys who played under him will have a point to prove. They will be thinking to themselves 'You've taken what you thought to be your better players, but we're going to show you how good we are'.

“The players just want to get on with it, but you know it is in the back of their minds and everyone will be fired up for it because they will be up against their former team-mates as well.

“We are under no illusions - Winchester are a tough side, but we are in a nice position where nobody is expecting anything from us and, if we apply ourselves like we have in the first three matches, we stand a very good chance of getting something from the game.”

Meanwhile, Kemp maintained he had offered all of his former charges the chance to follow him up the A31, but admitted his Priory connections would make a tough test even more difficult.

“I gave everyone the opportunity so it was never a case of me not wanting certain players, it just didn't suit some of them at the time,” said Kemp.

“Of course there will be ambition on both sides - the Christchurch lads will want to prove they are better than the ones I took with me and vice-versa.

“It's a big game for everyone involved but it's important to keep things in perspective. It is one game and there are still only three points available.

“I have Winchester's best interests at heart now but there will be no cartwheels across the pitch or any gloating if we do get the right result.

“From what I have heard, there is still a good team ethic at Christchurch and it will be our toughest game of the season so far. Despite them losing a few players, I don't think they will be too far off the pace come the end of the season.”

Priory will be boosted by the return of experienced striker Gareth Barnes, while Chris Speers and Billy Walker are also available for selection.

Cuffie also said that assistant manager Dave Morris had relinquished his role due to work commitments and confirmed he was unlikely to return to the club.

Priory: (from) Frampton, Doe, Bernard, McGrath, Legg, Blackburn, Smith, Fairbrother, Barnes, Purdy, Burden, Saul, Hoey, Salazar, Frewin, Davis, Meyer, Speers, Walker.