PORTLAND United assistant-manager Mark Carter insists Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division opponents Hamworthy United are in a “false position” ahead of their clash at the Weyline Stadium tonight (7.45pm).

Carter, alongside current Blues’ boss Brendon King, worked at the Hammers last season and helped lead the club to fifth position after investing well in players.

Hamworthy currently occupy 13th in the standings, although they have fallen two games behind due to an excellent FA Vase campaign in which they face a third-round clash at Hamble Club in December.

The fixture is also set to be a poignant one after the sudden death of Hamworthy’s goalkeeping coach Ben Scott led to the postponement of a clash between the sides earlier this season.

Commenting on the challenge of facing the Hammers, including the likes of former Dorchester captain Nathan Walker, Carter feels his former side’s placing is a betrayal of their true quality.

He said: “It’s a false position. They’re going well at the moment in the FA Vase and the squad they’ve assembled is experienced.

“We’ll have to make sure that we’re on our game – they’re loaded with Southern League players.

“But we know that they’re beatable because they’ve lost games so far this season. They’ve got a mixture of everything.

“Nathan has been playing up front, they’ve got Dan Cann as well, as a target man, so they can mix and match.”

Shaun Bessant (abdomen) misses out, but Sean Stewart returns from suspension.