NICK MERRIEN is the latest casualty as the Raiders look to achieve the double over Barnes at Footes Lane tomorrow (2pm kick off).
The big back rower is also sidelined now having strained ligaments in his elbow last week when Owen Clemett and Elia Morisio also fell foul of the cruel injury jinx Raiders have suffered in their maiden National 2 South season.
On the plus side, Cameron Craine and Matt Thomas both came through their Thursday night fitness tests and will play.
‘Matt got injured in the previous home game but he was a good for option us with Nick out,’ said the coach Jordan Reynolds.
It seems an age since Jordan Reynolds’ side defeated Barnes in a thriller in London.
That remains their only away win this campaign, which was quickly followed up by the home success against Clifton, since which the Guernsey side have slipped to 12 straight losses and face likely relegation.
At Barnes, the Raiders rallied brilliantly in the face of adversity to secure a historic first National Two South win on a day when Charlie Currie suffered that horrific ankle injury during the first half of the game, which caused the match to be moved onto a different pitch for the rest of the half, before returning back to the original pitch.
A galvanised Raiders then came from behind to win 26-21.
‘The boys really pushed on to a different level – it was outstanding,’ the coach told the Guernsey Press later.
Fast forward several months and Barnes will fancy gaining revenge when they visit Footes Lane tomorrow.
Barnes have racked up seven victories to achieve mid-table security and Reynolds admits they will be big favourites to win the return match.
‘Barnes have had a fantastic season really. They have gone through both winning and losing runs, but generally they have performed really well and defensive-wise they are very good.
Reynolds says that the mood in the camp remains positive and strong.
‘We had a chat about what we expect from ourselves and the one part of that is that we want to enjoy it and we want to be a bit looser in attack.
‘We want to play some rugby we are proud of.’
Kick off 2pm.
Prior to this match the Guernsey Vets will play the Barnes Vets on the Club Pitch at 12 noon.
Raiders team:
Craine, Ceillam, Steventon, Hillier, M. Thomas, Shannon, Rice, Horrocks, Alexandre, O. Thomas, Ahne, Campbell, Jones, Aremu, Armstrong. Replacements: L. Batiste, Baron, Creber, Teasdale, Gladstone.