Lavery confident heading into Fylde clash

Director of rugby Mark Lavery said: "Fylde would have moved us around last year, but not now though.

"They will run the ball from anywhere, we’ll play our usual power game – we’ve got a good set of guys here. It was a bit of a disaster for us against Hartpury but the boys have responded well, so we keep the same starting XV that kicked off against Esher a fortnight ago”.

“Esher are in a dog fight for survival in this division so it was always going to be tough, but the piano shifters did the shifting up front while our backs, well, they played the piano.

"Seven tries scored and none from the pack, the backs played in the (mostly) right areas – they were clinical”.

The Ampthill pack includes three former Tongan internationals; Aleki Lutui [hooker], Paino Hehea [lock] and Maama Molitika [Number 8], with a fourth Tongan, Loti Molitika, starting on the blindside [flanker]; former Exeter Chiefs prop Brett Sturgess starts in the front row [loosehead] with Matt Collins [tighthead], Karl Braband [second row] with duel-registered Saints wing forward Will Allman on the flank [openside].

Kev Barrett [scrum half] continues to develop his half-back pairing with Joe Tarrant [fly half], who returns from playing for England Counties against Scotland last weekend; Will Goodge [12] and Oris Nawakaliva [13] keep their places in the centre, with another England County representative, Sam Baker, starting on the [left] wing with Karim Lynch [right]; Steff Jones maintains his place at full back.

Forward replacements are three duel-registered players; Bedford’s Charlie Robinson, Northampton Saints’ Reece Marshall and Bath openside forward Sid Blackmore. Mickey Wilson and Ben Calder offer backs cover.

Kick off at Dillingham Park is at 3pm