Local rivals Folkestone and Sibton Park go head-to-head this weekend in the first Shepway derby of the Kent Cricket League season.

It’s the first league meeting between the clubs since 2012, following Park’s relegation from the Premier Division last summer.

Although the Lyminge-based side have the more impressive recent pedigree, Folkestone are looking to move ahead as the No.1 team in the area.

Folkestone captain Andy Bray said: "They’ve spent two of the last four seasons in the Premier Division, so they’ve been doing the right things as a club because they’ve played at the highest standard of club cricket in Kent.

"That’s something we aspire to, to play at that level, so we’ll see where we are at the end of the season and where they are.”

Ben Allon, Michael James, Tim Smith and Gareth Meers all left Sibton Park to join Folkestone during the close-season. That adds an extra dimension to the fixture but Park skipper Steven Rowe insists none of that bothers him.

He said: "It depends which way you want to approach it. Our approach is that we’ll focus on ourselves and not worry about what’s gone on previously.

"We feel positive. We always want to put in a good performance against Folkestone."

Full preview in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.