BRIGHTON head to title rivals Worthing today with coach Ian Watkins admitting: "This is D-day for us."

The Three South-East leaders make the short trip west on the back of a draw and defeat in the last fortnight.

But they have still only dropped one league point and Watkins said: "It's surprising that we're unbeaten and yet we still haven't shaken Worthing off.

"This is our chance to do it and open up a bit of a gap."

Flanker Bok Erasmus makes a welcome return after misisng the last three games, but the Brighton team otherwise has a settled look.

Worthing have been unstoppable at Roundstone Lane this season and their only dropped points came in the 22-6 defeat at Cranbrook.

The hosts are unlikely to announce a side until this morning though fullback John Quirk has missed the last couple of weeks through injury.

Both sides at Roundstone Lane will be keen to hear that Eastbourne have thrown a spanner in the Cranbrook works when they go to the Kent village today.

Crawley are still on the fringes of the title race and recall flanker Alan Maybank for the trip to unpredictable Chichester.

Centre Steve Pilgrim is also back in the side after missing last week's unspectacular cup dismissal of neighbours Horsham.

Chi centre Steve Bradford is still out so Michael Fradgely takes a midfield role. They also have a doubt over Sussex prop Alex Knight-Barnard, who may have to work

East Grinstead scrum half Arnaud Sehnebaide faces a lengthy lay-off with a broken collar bone so Danny Moore deputises at home to struggling Medway.

Meanwhile, Hove bid to improve their patchy away record when they make the tough trip to Tunbridge Wells.

Prop Dominic Henderson reckons the Hove front five have a more solid look about them these days.

He admitted: "This will be a quite a challenge. We see Tunbridge Wells as in the same class as Worthing or East Grinstead.

"But everyone is up for this one and we believe we can compete over there, if not win the game."

Sussex under-20s prospect Sam Haslam comes into the Hove back row

Lewes are another side facing a major test in Kent as they go to Gravesend in London Two South.

Their side shows a handful of changes from that which lost heavily at Haywards Heath in last week's cup tie.

Paul Hancock and Mark Wignall are absent so Paul Taylor and Matt Cooper get the chance to impress at half back.

Tim Brown wears eight with Jez King in the second row as the Sussex side brace themselves to battle with their hosts' renowned eight.

Richard Hudson and Andy Cook share scrum half duties for Haywards Heath at home to Warlinghan following Alex Meredith's departure to Ireland.

The second row spot vacated by Dave Atkin is filled by Alex Gander, though the imminent return to full fitness of Dave Cook will increase competition in the pack.

The Whitemans Green regulars will be keen to see who fares the best at the base of the scrum and outside half Jon Graham will have the best view of all.

He said: "Richard is very experienced and versatile and Cooky played scrum half at Exeter University before we pushed him to full back, so it should be interesting."

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