GUERNSEY ‘2s’ coach Mark Stone is expecting the toughest of challenges when he takes his team to the sister isle at the weekend for a game which will go along way to settling this year’s Investec CI League.

Buccaneers are the opposition and they demolished his admittedly under-strength side 67-8 back in early December.

That was the ‘2s’ last game and while they are going to be stronger to take on the title favourites second time around, it will not be easy.

‘Jersey Athletic don’t have a fixture, same as last time we were over, so we are expecting more of the same,’ said Stone.

‘Last time we held our own for the first half but were blown away in 20 minutes of the second,‘ he added.

‘This time we have more experience about us and know what we are up against.

‘If we stick to the game plan and are accurate with our execution we know we can cause problems but the key to this game will be defence.

‘If we front up physically from one to 20 we have every chance of taking a firm hold on top spot of this league.’

Stone says that while there has been very little let up on the injury front, certainly amongst the 1st XV squad, he has more players availablle than for the previous visit.

Dave O’Hanlon is back at 12 and Ben Challenor is available for the first time since pre-season having suffered shoulder and knee problems and those two will form the centre partnership.

Alec Bailey has recovered from his hamstring issue to retain the No. 10 shirt and Stone has a couple of selection decisions to make with regards to the back three.

Joe Mooney takes the number nine shirt for the second time in the league this season having impressed against Beeches in our last home game.

In the pack regular captain Leon Gardner returns on the flank alongside Darren Bellingham at No. 8 and Nico Ashplant makes up the third part of a strong back row.

Dale Martin forms the second row partnership with Mitch Smith.

Meanwhile, Cally Murdoch, who has been knocking on the first team door recently, gets to play in his familiar hooking position with former 1st XV front rowers Russell Roberts and Lol Hill-Tout alongside him.

Forwards Fergus Moriarty, John Bergh and Luke Gardner all return from injury and will travel as well as Diogo De Freitas who is improving each game he plays.

Squad:
Russell Roberts
Callum Murdoch
Lawrence Hill-Tout
Mitch Smith
Dale Martin
Leon Gardner
Nico Ashplant
Darrin Bellingham
Joe Mooney
Alec Bailey
Dave O’Hanlon
Ben Challenor
Callum Gladstone
Diogo De Freitas
Seoirse Lee
Fergus Moriarty
John Bergh
Luke Gardner