After suffering a narrow 24-19 loss two weeks ago away to United Services Portsmouth, Ray Smart’s side need a win to keep their hopes of promotion from Counties Two Hampshire alive.

That most recent loss was a bitter pill to swallow, as the Sarnian side had led for most of the match, but a strong resurgence from the home side in the final quarter saw them clinch it. 

The Vikings had plenty of chances to be further ahead but failed to take them, a mistake they will not want to repeat at home on Saturday.

With Smart away on holiday, assistant coach Alec Bailey will lead the side, and he is looking for improvement.

“When we faced US Portsmouth two weeks ago, we created lots of chances in the first half, but we only took one of them,” he said.

“We have to be more clinical when we create opportunities and take them. Otherwise teams in this league can punish us, as we found out.

“This weekend we have to execute those opportunities, and remain calm and composed when under pressure. I am hoping to see a response from the side this week.” 

The visitors are well known to St Jacques, having been promoted with them from Counties Three. 

Earlier in the season they contested a narrow affair, which the Vikings won 29-27, but it required a comeback in the final quarter to secure the victory. 

Since then “Winch” has had a series of mixed results and find themselves mid-table.

The good news for the Vikings is several important players return to the squad, and they also hand a debut to an exciting new addition.

Both Joe Le Roux and Taylor Quate are again available to partner in the centres, having missed the last game. Le Roux has been absent since sustaining a head injury against Tottonians in January. 

Dan de Kock is the new face. The former Guernsey Raider also played to a very high level in South Africa in his junior years, and after some time away has returned to the local rugby scene. He starts at hooker, and he is joined by JP Phelan and Tom Bray in the front row.

This will be Bray’s 50th appearance for the Vikings, having joined as a Colt in 2018..

Tom Creed plays in the second row. He partners with Jacob Smith, who also returns having been unavailable last week. 

In the back row, Tom Yarwood returns having been on the bench for Raiders last week, and Chris Croft starts this weekend, having been among the replacements two weeks ago. Mitch Smith joins them at no 8.

Dan Rice plays at fly-half aiming to pull the strings on attack. His backs contingent is made up of Sam Clarke and Kieran Creber on the wings, and captain Matt Lomas at fullback.

The game kicks off at 12:00 in front of the Garenne Stand, with Guernsey Raiders against Dorking following at 14:00.

Vikings: Bray, De Kock, Phelan, Creed, J Smith, Croft, Yarwood, M Smith; de Garis, Rice, K Creber, Quate, Le Roux, Clarke, Lomas (c)

Replacements: Wallis, Brown, Paul

Pictured top: St Jacques in action against Winchester Seconds earlier this season.