Chichester captain Sam Beere insists it is vital for his side to beat Brighton in Sunday's Sussex Cup semi-final.

The two clubs will be playing in South Premier division two next season following Chi's relegation this year and Beere wants his side to set an early benchmark.

He said: "It is pretty important for us. It sets the tone for next season.

"It is going to be a yardstick for next season. If Brighton have rolled over the rest of the teams this season and we can match them, then I don't see us having any problems next year when we will be looking to come straight back up."

Chichester expect to be at full strength.

Hosts Brighton are the lowest placed of the four semi-finalists in hockey's pyramid but they have won the Sussex Cup three times in the last four seasons.

They will be without the injured Dave Delea plus Stuart Dunbar and Alex James, who are unavailable, so youngsters Sam Rose and Nathan Monk get a call-up while Richard Cook, who stepped down from first team hockey last summer, makes an unexpected return.

Brighton, who have already finished as runners-up, complete the league programme away to Old Whitgiftians tomorrow.