BASINGSTOKE RFC will start their promotion quest in London One South with a visit from Dover on Saturday, September 6.

The Kent side finished eighth last season, so hopefully this will allow relegated ’Stoke to get their campaign off to the perfect start.

A week later, they travel to newly-promoted Guildford, which looks the toughest of the opening month’s fixtures.

Last season, ’Stoke were given a really stiff task as they faced all the top sides in National League Three London.

This time around it looks, on paper, a much better start. Basingstoke’s director of Rugby James Croker said: “Dover are a dogged side and playing them on a wet, muddy pitch is going to be hard, so I am glad they will come to our paddock when it is dry.

“We want to hit the ground running this campaign and we know something about most of the teams, except Charlton Park and Brighton, so we will have to do some homework on them.”

Newly-promoted Gosport and Fareham arrive at Down Grange on October 4, while Havant who ’Stoke beat in a Hampshire Cup thriller earlier this year, will be out for revenge when they visit on March 7.

Basingstoke RFC London One South fixtures 2014-15

September

6 - Dover (h)

13 - Guildford (a)

20 - Cobham (h)

27 - Chobham (a)

October

4 - Gosport & Fareham (h)

11 - Brighton (a)

18 - Sidcup (h)

25 - Charlton Park (a)

November

1 - Hove (h)

15 - Havant (a)

22 - Twickenham (h)

December

6 - Sutton & Epsom (a)

13 - Wimbledon (h)

20 - Guildford (h)

January

3 - Cobham (a)

10 - Chobham (h)

17 - Gosport & Fareham (a)

31 - Brighton (h)

February

7 - Sidcup (a)

21 - Charlton Park (h)

28 - Hove (a)

March

7 - Havant (h)

21 - Twickenham (a)

28 - Sutton & Epsom (h)

April

11 - Wimbledon (a)

18 - Dover (a)