Match Preview

Being competitive for a full 80 minutes is one of the targets head coach Jordan Reynolds takes into a debut season at National Two South level.
The fact that this new look Raiders squad is suffering from a minor injury crisis heading into the opening game at Old Albanian on Saturday is, as they say, by the by.
Reynolds is looking beyond Saturday, a game which sees Raiders field a fairly familiar pack again led by Lewis Hillier, but an almost entirely new backline with Anthony Armstrong the only established face.
There are first starts for young Academy product Tom Teasdale at fly half, alongside new No. 9 Nico Alexandre.
Young Taylor Quate, often outstanding for the Vikings last season and who does have 1st team experience, will start on one wing while Daley Aremu, who played for Old Albanian last season, is due to play on the other.
In the centre we see an altogether new partnership of Alex Gow and Elia Morisio.

On the topic of extensive injuries, Reynolds is phlegmatic.
‘It was bound to happen at some time in the year and we knew probably six weeks ago we were going to be touch and go for the first month or so, but every team is going to face injuries and we are just facing them early.
‘But in saying that, the team is still relatively strong even though we have 13 guys injured or unavailable, 10 of which were borderline starting. It's the way it goes.
‘The excitement is still there and we have to chance our hand at the right moments.’
In general terms, Reynolds does not believe National Two South is in any way beyond his group.
‘It will be a step up for sure, but one of the best things for us is that we have constantly played games against the likes of the Pirates and Doncaster (in pre-season). It's all about playing at a higher level and there are parts we will be able to handle at this level and parts we might not. But that's where we are going to learn from and we will adapt where we see fit.
‘I have got a lot of faith that the guys will be able to handle it at this level. They believed in themselves last season and they've got to do that again this season.’

As for what would constitute a good season?
The coach said:
‘We want to be competing for 80 minutes during each game, whether we are winning or losing, because if we do that we are going to be picking up bonus points and wins along the way.

Team: Sam Steventon, Tom Ceillam, Charlie Currie, Lewis Hillier (capt.), Nick Merrien, Dom Rice, Douglas Horrocks, Matt Thomas; Nico Alexandre, Tom Teasdale, Taylor Quate, Alex Gow, Elia Morisio, Daley Aremu and Anthony Armstrong. Reserves: Layton Batiste, David Anderson, Brad Webb, Matt Creber, Ben Holland.