OLD Southendian & Southchurch captain Aaron Lucas does not know whether the team’s tour of Sussex will be a blessing or a curse when they return to Division Three action tomorrow.

The second-placed Old Boys have been based in Brighton this week for a series of matches and travel to fifth-placed Woodford Green tomorrow.

And while they have been getting plenty of match practice, Lucas is concerned that fatigue may affect the team.

“The problem with the tour is that they are long days and evenings and they take their toll,” said Lucas. “But we have got to focus tomorrow and get a decent result because it’s a game that we should be winning and it is such a tight division this year.”

Three points separate the top trio – leaders Harlow Town, Southendian and Stanford-le-Hope – and Lucas is hoping for wins against Woodford Green and Old Parkonians before crunch games against Stanford and fourth-placed Old Brentwoods.

“Anything can happen and we just have to keep on winning and hope the others slip up a bit,” Lucas added. “We have lost to Stanford and Harlow and if we can reverse those loses when we play them again then we should be safe and sound.”

Stanford head to mercurial Oakfield Parkonians on the back of a 211-run thumping of Woodford Green.

Basildon & Pitsea saw their home match against Epping abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch last weekend and face a tough test at Harlow Town tomorrow.

Benfleet head to bottom-of-the-table Epping but captain James Wilkins is taking nothing for granted.

Wilkins’ team are only one place and nine points in front of the basement side as they bid to secure their third win of the campaign.

“We can take nothing for granted,” Wilkins said. “ I’m very confident in our bowling attack.

“But we just have to apply ourselves with the bat. We are not getting the runs at the moment, even with our strongest XI out.”

Benfleet welcome back Paul Frensham after his holiday but Gavin Blowes is out for a month after fracturing his finger.