Preview: Bank v St Albans

Underbank Rangers coach Richard knight suggests the life and soul is back in the team as Dave Valentine looks to make a return ahead of St Albans Centurions on Saturday.

The Huddersfield side may be hailing a slightly depleted squad but confidence remains high as they look to make amends and put the Hemel defeat behind them.

Prop forward Valentine will make his return to the Cross Grounds and Knight believes this could be a telling factor in over coming last week’s misery.

He said: “Valentine is really the life and soul of our team, he is a good talker, he works really hard and he also emphasises what we are looking for this Saturday.

“Hopefully the sort of character that Dave is will rub off on the rest of the team and help raise their game.

“The ground will be wet and really slow due to the weather, so it is about taking that mentality and giving it your all.

“There is no substitute for effort and if everyone puts in the right attitude and 100 per cent on the field then we should be able to do the job.”

Bank will enter the game with a weakened back line as injury means Leon Alexis-Bailey and Nick Briggs are both side-lined.

Will Midgley also looks doubtful as he nurtures a shoulder problem.

Despite key absences, Knight is assured that the defensive game is strong going into this home-tie and there will be no repeat of the poor performance shown against Hemel Stags.

“We may be struggling at the back without the likes Leon and Briggs, but we have done quite a lot of work on our defensive game to improve our line-running and tackling which should work in our favour this week.”

Regardless of not coming away with three points it their opening game of the season, Knight is ready to trade another win for a strong performance.

Bank came out of last weeks fixture six points shy of Hemel, but it was the display on the field that concerned the coach, not the result.

“Its not so much about winning and proving last week was just a blip, it’s about everyone getting back to their best and making improvements both individually, and as a team.

“When we start to do that then the winning will come with it, so this week I’m focused on picking up our performance and making sure everyone is back to the same strength they were last season,” said knight.