The Vikings are preparing for their final appearance of the year, as they look to head into the new year remaining unbeaten at the top of Counties Three Hampshire.

They missed out on their away trip last weekend due to the adverse weather conditions, meaning Ray Smart’s side will come into this weekend’s clash with Locks Heath Pumas at Footes Lane fresh and ready for the challenge. Smart will be absent from the game, leaving forwards coach Dan Brown to oversee the side.

The Pumas have been an improving side as the season has progressed, and during the away encounter with the Vikings back in September they caused a number of problems for the Guernsey side. They led at half-time, but a strong second half comeback saw the Vikings run out eventual 29-45 victors.

This weekend the Vikings coaching team are keen to ensure their will be no such repeat of that first half on home soil, and the squad will be prepared for the challenge that the visiting Pumas bring.

Locks Heath are now third in the league and have amassed a four-game unbeaten run heading into this game.

Several of the Vikings regular players were given a rest last weekend for the game against Gosport & Fareham that was eventually postponed. With the Vikings coaching teamlooking for their side to end the year on a high, many of the rested players come back into the XV this weekend, along with prolific centre Taylor Quate who has been out injured for the past month.

Quate has amassed a tally of seventeen tries this season from just nine games, and his return couldn’t be timelier for the visit of the Pumas this weekend. He slots straight back into the side at outside centre, as Joe Le Roux is unavailable for selection this week.

Wing Cam Le Prevost is due to start this week, partnering in the Vikings back-three with Kieran Creber and captain Matt Lomas.

The Pumas are a physical side, and you cannot afford to allow them any dominance up front. Thankfully the Vikings are able to call on several experienced heads in the forwards to attempt to nullify that threat. Tom Creed resumes back in the second-row, partnering with the fast developing Keiran Williamson.

In the front-row, the Vikings are able to recall James Mroch who joins Tom Bray and Callum Murdoch, forming a big unit in the close quarters. All three are experienced practitioners and will hope to assert their dominance in the set piece on Saturday.

Mitchell Smith will move back to the blindside flank on Saturday, as the Vikings name one of their strongest back-row formations of the season. Chris Croft will finally get to make his injury return on the openside, whilst the big ball carrying Jacob Smith will anchor the back of the scrum. He has found some brilliant form in recent games, and his impact will be essential this week.

Dale Rutledge and Gearoid Lee get another opportunity to reacquaint themselves in the half-back roles, having produced a brilliant joint performance against Portsmouth recently. Lucas Barker also returns to partner with Quate in the centres.

The replacements bench consists of three quality players in Tom Yarwood Tom Veillard and Michael Smith. They will all likely have a big part to play this weekend.

This clash is set to be one of the sterner tests from two of the form teams in the league, and the Pumas will be keen to overturn their previous loss to the Vikings.

Kick-off on Saturday is 1.30pm on the Club pitch at Footes Lane.

It’s free entry to the game, hot drinks and a pitchside bar will be available, along with our Vikings burgers.