The black-and-yellows welcome second placed Bournemouth for a lunchtime kick-off, and have a point to prove after a disappointing away leg earlier this season against the southern based mainlanders.

Last weekend the Vikings produced a better performance against Bury St Edmunds, before ultimately becoming unstuck in Suffolk. This weekend they are hoping they can build on that performance, and finally secure their first victory on the pitch this season.

With over thirty players available for selection, Ray Smart and his coaching team had many tough decisions to make this week. However, they have been handed a few timely selection boosts ahead of the clash.

Bournemouth are notoriously a strong scrummaging team, so the availability of Darrin Bellingham is positive news. He has been a prominent player for the Raiders this season, but he is a player who starred for the Vikings previously and will be a cornerstone of the side on Saturday.

Ray Smart is able to call on Tom
Creed who forms a new partnership in the second-row with Tor Ritchie-Bandy. Creed was very effective last weekend and got through a huge amount of work, and the same will be needed again this weekend against an expected useful Bournemouth side.

Dale Rutledge and Matt Lomas both return, having missed last weekend. Lomas will resume captaincy of the Vikings ship, and will also control the action from fly-half after he has shaken off a slight injury. Rutledge will join him in the half-backs.

Michael Jamieson will finally make his long awaited debut on the wing, after missing out on his earlier opportunity against Maidenhead, after the game was postponed. He is joined at fullback by Gearoid Lee, who has moved from fly-half, and Taylor Quate, who scored a fabulous try last weekend from his own half is on the opposite wing.

Tom Rihoy has earned a start in the back-row alongside the two Smith brothers, Mitchell and Jacob. All three produced brilliant performances last weekend, and it will be vital they step on Saturday.

Waiting in the wings will be James Regnard who makes his first appearance since October, and he is also joined by the familiar face of former Vikings skipper, Leon Gardner.

Up front, hooker James Mroch joins Bellingham and the final component of the ‘Smith Brothers’, Michael.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Ray Smart said he was looking forward to the game:

‘This has been a really good training week for us, the boys have applied themselves and sought to build on last weekends performance.’

‘As I said last week, we were disappointed to lose out to Bury because we fell asleep for just a few minutes. But we showed how much we have improved, and now it is up to us to produce a performance to be proud of.’

‘We know Bournemouth are a good side, particularly up front in the forwards, but we were very disappointed with the way we played when we faced them away. That hurt the players a lot, and I hope we can channel that into this weekend and play like I know we can, I’m looking forward to it!’ added Smart.

Kick-off is 12pm on the old rugby club pitch at Footes Lane.