Playing rugby under the Footes Lane floodlights is always a special occasion, but even more so on a Friday as part of a unique double-header with our good friends Guernsey Raiders!

Tonight we look forward to hosting Bury St Edmunds seconds in Raging Bull Shield, as the curtain raiser to the Raiders vs BSE in National Two.

The Vikings produced a good performance for 60 minutes against todays visitors when we played them in Suffolk earlier this year, but a ‘mad’ 10 minutes took the game well away from the Vikings. There can be no such repeat tonight.

After last weeks win against Maidenhead, the Vikings have been hit hard by injuries and covid, and that added in the Colts have a game on Sunday the player pool has been reduced. That being said Ray Smart has been able to name a very strong squad, which is littered with experience, which includes for the first time in Vikings colours, Luke Sayer.

The former Guernsey Raider has made himself available to the Vikings in the back part of this season, and he brings huge experience and class to their backline. He starts unusually at fly-half today, as the Vikings have been forced into a few changes.

Tom Veillard, who was excellent at fly-half last week moves in one to the scrum-half position, with Dale Rutledge, Pierre de Garis and Lucas Barker all out through injury or illness.

Dave Davison comes straight back into the centres after missing last week, where he joins Callum Gladstone, who was a strong performer against Maidenhead.

Jonathan Groves starts on the wing, with Cashel Cahill earning a recall on the opposite wing. Cahill produced some heroics in the last game against Bury, and he will hope to bring that form into tonight. Joe Le Roux is once again at fullback.

Up front James Mroch starts again, with Michael ‘Harry’ Smith ruled out. He joins Leon Gardner and Tom Bray.

In the engine room, Brad Webb and Nick Merrien line up, they were in imperious form last weekend, and will hope to go well tonight.

In the back row there is a new face, Liam Welch moved to the island last year but has been kept out by an arm injury. He gets his first minutes at number 8. Joining him is the returning Alex Lock and the ever present Mitch Smith.

Phil Le Noury is back after injury on the bench, he is joined by talismanic loose forward James Regnard, who is still making an impact into his 40’s.

Kick off is 5.30pm, and is followed by Raiders at 7.30pm.