Eastbourne skipper Paul Stevens is not reading too much into last week's nine-wicket defeat of high-flying Chichester.

The result left Eastbourne fourth ahead of today's trip to Three Bridges but Stevens said: "It is too early to be talking about a challenge. If we finish in the top half I will be happy."

Paul Hacker, Toby Ayres and Martin Garnett are all ruled out today.

Among those drafted in is 15-year-old Jamie Goddard for his debut after a couple of decent scores in the IIs.

Bridges have a doubt over Jon Newell (ankle). Jibran Khan stands by.

Bridges are one win off top spot but skipper Danny Alderman insisted: "The first thing we are thinking about is moving away from the bottom places."

Eastbourne and Bridges both made tame exits from the National Knockout last Sunday, to Finchley and Sunbury respectively, as their sides were depleted by call-ups to the Sussex Board XI.

The Board XI bid to make it four wins out of four when they host Dorset in their County Championship at Hastings tomorrow (11am).

Sussex won in Berkshire last weekend to add to their successes over Hampshire in the Championship and Shropshire in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.

How they line-up Eastbourne: P. Stevens, Purdey, Ambrose, Kotze, Meacher, Goddard, Lord, Smith, J. Hepburn, M. Hepburn, Myall.

Three Bridges: P. Mole, Stanbridge, Hillman, C. Mole, Alderman, Mahmood, Brown, Hazleton, Newell or Khan, Chappell, Mumby.

Chichester: Robins, Perry, Oliver, Whiteaker, Rufey, Edwards, Barnes, Taylor, Dyer, Bullard, Sleep.

Hastings: Campbell, Snashall, Saeed, Finch, Smith, Eldridge, Chaplin, van Noort, Morgan, Read, Topp.

Brighton: Spencer, Adams, Bieber, Robinson, Wakeford, Sartour, Marchant, Williams, Howe, Spink, Collyer.

Worthing: Dunn, Clapp, Stillwell, Cameron, Kaye, Venus, Shelford, Lutwyche, Barton, Aduhene, Marshall.

Crowborough: Cornford, Jackson, Wilton, Shankland, Akhtar, Khan, Thorogood, Foden, Pickett, Westall, Burns.

Horsham: Stratton, Hussey, Hodd, Hopkinson, Read, C. Nash, P. Gallagher, Law, Dodd, Chambers, Weekes.

Haywards Heath: Southwell, Carpenter, Havell, Edmonds, G. Honeysett, A. Honeysett, Wood, Cruickshank, Benham, Kingcombe, Hall.

East Grinstead: Pollard, Steyn, Chadburn, N. Turk, Edwards, Morrish, P. Turk, Phillips, Greig, Simmonds, Wilson.