Alton will play their first league game of 2012 when Old Freemen visit Anstey Park tomorrow (2pm kick-off). Front-row woes have given Alton a longer-than-expected mid-winter break and they remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table but Saturday's game is something of a fresh start with a trio of new faces taking the field.

Three players will make their first starts for the 1sts: Bren Sumner and Toby Renehan pair up in the centres while Matt Allum takes his place in the back row.

Freemen themselves are rapidly sliding into relegation trouble. Seven defeats in their last eight have left the Surrey side just two points above the relegation zone and with Andover and Vandals playing tomorrow, they could find themselves in the bottom three tomorrow night.

The Super Seconds' Snows Group Hampshire Merit game at Southampton is off.

Elsewhere in London 3, it is desperately tight at the top, where Alleynians and Sandown and Shanklin are tied on 56 points and have an identical points difference. The old boys are top on alphabetical order - actually, they have scored 31 points more than the Islanders.

Alleynians face improving Purley John Fisher while S&S visit ever-mercurial Old Wellingtonians, who may have ended Winchester's promotion hopes after winning 21-12at North Walls Park two weeks ago.

Winch visit third-placed KCS Old Boys and must win if they are to stay in the promotion race while in L3SW's other game, Ellingham host Old Blues.

There is also barely a cigarette paper between the top two in Hampshire One where Fordingbridge lead Eastleigh by a point. 'Bridge have a testing trip to Burnaby Road where they take on United Services while Eastleigh should have too much for visitors Nomads. Petersfield host the Isle of Wight at Penns Place.

Sunday sees Alton's younger sides in league and friendly action.

The Colts entertain Basingstoke (2pm kick-off) in the league and the U16s are also at home - New Milton are the visitors in an 11am friendly.

The U15s also have a home game, with Guernsey hopping across the Channel for a friendly (1pm kick-off).