LEAGUE positioning will count for little in this weekend’s WEPL Wiltshire clash between Purton and Royal Wootton Bassett, according to Purton skipper Aaron Lee.

Lee’s troops became the first team to defeat leaders Warminster this season last weekend, and will now be targeting a top-half finish in the division – starting with Saturday’s visit from Bassett.

A win for Purton could see them move to within six points of Bassett, although Lee knows his side must continue to build on the positive work from last week if they are to launch a late challenge to finish in the top half.

He said: “Being in the bottom half with 12 games played is not the position we targeted, to be honest.

“We’d like to be pushing towards a top-half finish. But we haven’t played cricket that deserves that.

“About a third of the way through the season, it became a league of two halves, and we want to be top of our half.

“There’s a gap between ourselves and the bottom three, and we want to make sure we stay clear of that.

“We want to be looking at the top half of the table. I know we’ve got a team that’s capable of playing at the same level as Swindon and Marshfield.”

With the summer holidays now under way, all teams will have to deal with the issue of regular player unavailability.

But Lee has been more than impressed with the attitude shown by Purton’s second team, especially when asked to step up to the higher ranks.

He said: “Availability never helps at this time of year, but it’s the same for both teams. We have got to make sure we’re prepared and get the best out of players that are available.

“Players that are now in the first team probably didn’t think they’d be in this position at the start of the season.

“Both teams will want to win this game, regardless of the league. We’ve had a rivalry with Bassett for a long time, and there have been plenty of good games along the way. I’m sure we’ll be in for another good game.”

Elsewhere, Swindon head to Marlborough, while Lechlade go to Dumbleton in Premier Two Glos/Wilts.