JERSEY RFC have another mountainous task ahead of them on Saturday when they play third-placed Sutton and Epsom at home in the London South League, Division II.

However, coach Dai Burton was encouraged by his side’s performance against table-topping Guildford, away from home last weekend, even though they eventually lost, 20-17.

‘Last year we had a few individuals who could make a difference in a match; this year we’ve no stars which means the players all have to work for each other,’ he said.

‘And they’re a very fit outfit.

Last week, by half-time, we’d reduced the Guildford pack to walking to broken play.

We’ll need the same level of commitment this week and the same attitude.

We don’t want to get turned over again.’ It was only two minutes from the end of last week’s game that Jersey conceded one penalty too many not only to lose, but to drop down into the bottom five of Division II.

However, the side is a settled one at the moment with no hasty replacements having to be made and centre Andy Whelan is even paying to come back from England to play, now that he has forced his way back into the team at centre.

‘There are no changes from the starting 15 who began last week’s game,’ said Burton, ‘and despite the bad weather we were able to use the tennis courts at Les Ormes for our line-out calls and to practise handling drills.

It went well.

‘On Saturday the forecast is for occasional rain but it will be windy.

We need our approach to be right this week right from the start.

Let’s hope we can do what we’ve done in most games recently, and really wear the opposition down.’ Team: Marcus Nobes, Josh Chamier, Jim Brimelow, Roger Quirk, Ian Henderson, Jon Allo, Richie Griffiths, Steve O’Brien, Paul Nayar, Jamie Allan, Mark White, Andy Whelan, Steve Mee, James Milner, Gareth Jeffreys.

Replacements: Peter O’Connor, Darren Toudic, Harry Bonn, Marc Peters.

Kick-off 2.15 pm.

On Sunday, Wanderers take on Guernsey 2nds in the Emeraude Lines JRA league at 12.30pm at St Peter and Banks take on Beeches at Grainville at 2 pm in the same league.