TOM CEILLAM’S injury gives Nico Ashplant a rare start for the Raiders as they welcome Bracknell to Footes Lane on Saturday, 1.30 kick-off.
Ashplant will pack down as hooker with Layton Batiste taking on line-out throwing duties, a role he is well used to.

Meanwhile, Luke Sayer returns and takes the spot of the unavailable Ned Brown at outside centre against a side who Guernsey snatched a late 30-27 win at earlier this season.

A win would give Raiders a great chance of leapfrogging Shelford into sixth place in the National Three London & South-East table. Raiders are now just a point behind Shelford, who have a tough game against Westcombe Park.

Other than Ceillam and Brown’s absence the side is likely to look much like the one that won at Wimbledon last week, but the coach has yet to name his team with question marks regarding a couple of players carrying knocks.

Meanwhile, it is a big weekend for Chris Griffiths’ in-form women’s team who go to top of the table and so far invincible Tonbridge Juddians on Sunday.

Tonbridge Juddians won again last weekend to make it 8 wins from 8 and are sitting pretty at the top of the league and they won well at Footes Lane in early October when our girls were missing key players.
Griffiths knows where his team need to improve.

‘Where we have to improve and tighten up is in defence and we have been working very hard to try and put things right in that area, especially looking at line speed and communication. Combine what we hope will be a massively improved area with a very quick backline and I think we have every chance of putting on a great performance and hopefully coming back with a very good away win.’

Squad:
1. Michaela Rabey
2. Sophie O’Connell
3. Heidi Mahy
4. Kristine Vavere (C)
5. Morgan Johnson
6. Michelle Schofield
7. Tanya Scholtz
8. Ellie Whittles
9. Jemma Crouse
10. Fiona Ashworth
11. Caitlin Bowie
12. Hannah McLennan
13. Justeen Baker
14. Anneka Saunders
15. Carly Parrott

Replacements
16. Eleanor Woodward
17. Beth Gabriel
18. Sarah Woodington
19. Emma Rayson
20. Samantha Le Cras
21. Kaitlin Donaldson