The wait to finally play at home this season is nearly over for the Vikings, as they prepare to take on Winchester Seconds at Footes Lane on Saturday afternoon.

It’s a crazy rugby filled day down at Footes Lane, that will also see the Guernsey Raiders Ladies in action against Pulborough.

Ray Smart’s Vikings side have a perfect record so far this season, with three bonus point victories, but importantly so do this weeks visitors.

Last weekend the Vikings had a scare as they were behind against Locks Heath Pumas and had to produce a strong second-half comeback to keep their record intact. Going into this weeks game they will want to ensure that they put themselves in a better position, as they might not get the opportunity to turn it around against a likely strong Winchester side.

The Vikings will have to tackle this weeks visitors without their top try-scorer, as Taylor Quate is off island. He has been in imperious form this season, scoring three consecutive hat-tricks and proving a real handful for defenders.

Thankfully they have been boosted by the return of second-row Tom Creed, who is back following a minor hamstring injury having been forced to sit out last weekend. He will bring leadership and big physical presence to the Vikings forwards.

With Quate away, Joe Le Roux will wear the outside centre jersey this week. He possess a good turn of pace and has become a consistent feature for the Vikings in recent seasons, but he has a big task ahead this week.

Last week poor discipline was costly for the Vikings, and that along with some poor maul defence was a recipe for disaster. They have worked significantly on that this week in training to iron out those issues, and they will be hopeful that they have no such repeat this week.

There will be an entirely different front-row for the hosts this week, as Corey Wallis, Phil Le Noury and James Mroch all come in. James Burger & James Beck who featured last week are both required by the Raiders, whilst Callum Murdoch is amongst the replacements.

Jack Webber also returns after making an impressive debut against Portsmouth several weeks ago, where he scored two impressive tries from distance. He is joined in the back-row by Alex Lock and Barney Paul, the latter taking the number-8 jersey this week.

The only change in the backs from last week is the addition of Le Roux, whilst the Vikings will again be led by Matt Lomas from fly-half.

Scrum-half Dale Rutledge has got himself on the scoresheet in all three Vikings games so far this season, and he will be hopeful of extending that tally this weekend. The live wire half-back is an essential player for the Guernsey side, and whilst he is a danger around the fringes of the breakdown, his distribution skills are by far his biggest asset.

Sam Ferry is in line to make his debut, if he steps off the replacements bench on Saturday. He is one of the new players in the Vikings squad, and has had to bide his time waiting for his opportunity, which he gets this week.

This battle of the unbeaten sides looks set to be interesting affair, and is the biggest test so far this season for the Vikings. They will be hoping they can come through it with their perfect record still intact.

Ladies Team-news

Steve Evan’s side welcome Pulborough Ladies to Footes Lane for their first league encounter of the season.

After welcoming in many new young players last season, they developed and improved significantly throughout their league campaign and finishing in sixth place in NC 1 South East. They then ended the season impressively by winning back the Ladies Siam Cup in May.

They will be hoping that their experiences last season will stand them in good stead to make further progress this year.

The Ladies are able to include now Loughborough University based Lucy Pratt for this weeks game, and she will start at fullback.

Isabel Rabey also returns after a long injury lay-off, and they have handed a debut start to young Yvie Coyde.

The ladies game kicks-off at 3.30pm, after the Vikings match.

It is free entry to both games, and the bar will be open and food is available.

Here’s to an action packed day of rugby!