Ray Smart’s men kick-off the action on a double-header day at Footes Lane on the club pitch, before the Raiders tackle Dorking later in the afternoon over on the Garenne Stand.

The black-and-yellows have been the team to beat this season, and although they have secured 18 successive victories, they have been able to rotate their squad and impressively have used over 40 players during the campaign.

This weeks visitors head into the clash in a good run of form, having won their last six matches, and have only lost once in 2023. Had it not been for a tough start to the season, they may well be much higher than 8th in the league table. That form has not have gone unnoticed within the Vikings camp, and this match could well turn out to be a tough battle to secure the title this weekend.

The Sarnian side had a bye week last weekend, which after a bruising battle with Andover Seconds two weeks ago, may have come at a good time. Taylor Quate was a casualty from that game, meaning he will miss all of the Vikings remaining league fixtures.

Selection for this important game was understandably a tough job for the Vikings coaches this week, with over 30 players available to them. They have settled on a side that is balanced with experience and youth, and they have been able to recall two important players in the backs.

Gearoid Lee has recently made the step up to the Raiders set-up, but he is available to the Vikings this week. He starts at fly-half, and he has another exciting young talent partnering with him.

Oscar Bailey is still in the Guernsey Academy under 18 Colts team, but he has starred when making the step up to the men’s game this season, and already has several Raiders’ caps to his name. He has recovered from a recent injury setback to return in the centres this week, and it will be exciting to see how he performs back in black-and-yellow.

Both captain Matt Lomas and Barney Paul will make their 50th appearance for the club this weekend. Lomas starts at full-back whilst Paul is amongst the replacements this week. They are just the third and forth players to achieve this feat, since the 'Vikings era' began in 2017. Congratulations to both players.

Another player who has battled with injuries this season is Chris Croft, but he too returns to the side this week in the back-row. He partners with Mitch and Jacob Smith to help make up an exciting dynamic trio.

In the second-row engine room this week, young Keiran Williamson partners with Tom Creed. Both have played well this season, and in the case of Williamson it has been impressive to see his development, during his first season in senior men's rugby. He had only ever played a handful of games before stepping up this season, but he is quickly forming into a quality energetic lock.

In the front-row Corey Wallis, James Mroch and Michael Smith start this week, whilst Tom Veillard continues at scrum-half with Dale Rutledge still on holiday back in his native New Zealand. Veillard is a versatile player for the Vikings who consistently performs, regardless of the position he is playing.

Joe Le Roux has also been in good form the second-half of this season and he continues in the centres, partnering with Bailey this week. On the wings, Cameron Le Prevost and Kieran Creber continue, as they have for much of the season.

This Saturdays match is on the club pitch at 12.30PM, before Guernsey Raiders battle Dorking at 2PM.

The Vikings game is free entry, and drinks & Vikings burgers will be available pitch-side. We would love your support as we go in search of that vital win to secure the league title!

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