JERSEY RFC have their first ever foray in the Powergen Intermediate Cup this afternoon, playing away to Tottonians.

It is, however, a journey the club and coach Dai Burton have made several times before, for the side are in the London South West League Division III, which Jersey topped last year on their way to promotion.

‘We know their style of play,’ Burton explained, ‘they’ve got a big pack and a very good scrum-half who, I think, was their captain last year.

But we beat them then both home and away, and I believe they’ve also lost both games they’ve played this year.

‘Having said that, they’ll be wanting a Cup run of their own, so we can’t take anything for granted.

I felt we lost our way a little bit last week.

‘Perhaps we worried too much about Gosport so we’ve got to go back to playing our own kind of game without worrying about how the opposition might play.

I’m looking forward to it.’ The side Burton is fielding shows two or three changes to the one which lost to Gosport last week, including changes on the bench as well as on the pitch.

‘Gareth (Davies) played well for the 2nds last weekend; he was very influential in his more natural position at second row, so we’ll play him until he’s ready to drop – and then make changes,’ Burton said.

‘Harry Bonn also had a good game at wing-forward; that’s why he’s in the squad; he also has natural ability, which is pleasing to see.

Every one of the subs will get a game.’ Absent from the club for the whole of last year, former Les Quennevais player and captain Richard Vetier is also on the subs’ bench as is Peter O’Connor and Steve Mee.

And the club need not only a win on Saturday but a convincing performance if they are to achieve their ambition of getting through the preliminary regional rounds, before the Cup games go national.

‘We’ve got to establish a pattern to our game again, especially as next week’s game is so important to us,’ said Burton.

‘That game’s against Maidstone, who are a very good team.

That will probably be our biggest test of the season so far.

It will also be our first home game – and the first chance on home territory to wear our new shirts.’ Team: Huw Thomas, Josh Chamier, James Brimelow, Roger Quirk, Gareth Davies, Ian Henderson, John Allo, Richie Griffiths, Paul Nayar, Darren Toudic, Dave Carswell, Ross Allan, Jamie Allan, Mark White, Gareth Jeffreys.

Replacements: Peter O’Connor, Richard Vetier, Harry Bonn, Steve Mee.