The Nuns will be looking to end a run of three defeats when they host Silhillians on Saturday for a first league meeting between the two Warwickshire sides. Both sides come into the game on the back of defeats last time out. The Nuns took on table toppers Syston, losing 36-28 in a game when if accuracy and ball retention had been better then the chance to come away with more than just a try bonus point would have increased. Sils suffered a 43-32 home defeat to Burton. Both sides have 2 wind and 5 defeats but the Nuns have picked up 7 try bonus points compared to Sils 2. Sitting in 9th with 15 points compared to the visitors who have 10 points and sit in 10th.

After a weekend with no games, it is hoped that a few bodies will be rested well and the squad availability will be better. The players have trained hard this week and will be looking to improve on execution of skills when under pressure to create more opportunities to be successful on the weekend.

The Saxons travel to Atherstone for a derby game of their own in the league. Both sides come in to the game on the back of defeats last time out. A depleted Saxons made the journey to Lichfield and battled manfully before going down 68-12. Atherstone took on Syston and lost 59-12. The Saxons have 7 league points, sitting in 10th and Atherstone have 15 points and sit 6th.

The Saracens have a week off after defeat to Pinley last weekend 50-21.

The Colts host Broadstreet in the league. Last weekend they lost to Lutterworth in a friendly 39-19.

Team news: in the pack, James Redman is nursing a knee injury and so Ryan Marsh starts at prop. Tom Aherne is away and so James Moreton also comes in off the bench and in the back row Rudi Reid and Jack Iles come in for Ben Cornwall and Arron Skyrme.

Tom Smitham returns at scrum half with Ben Kirby reverting back to full back. Lucas Brindley starts at centre as Ryan Preston is ruled out with a concussion and Travis Bennett-Allcock is back on the wing.

Oli Mitchell, Aaron Esiri and Mike Volaikisuva make up the bench.

Squad to play Silhillians RFC, Home 2:15pm:

1 Ryan Marsh
2 Louis Addleton
3 Ben Dawes
4 Ben Haywood
5 James Moreton*
6 Jack Iles*
7 Rudi Reid
8 Martin Wood
9 Tom Smitham*
10 Joe Wilson*
11 Travis Bennett-Allcock*
12 Lucas Brindley*
13 Harry Beverley*
14 Tak Chawadya
15 Ben Kirby

16 Oli Mitchell*
17 Mike Volaikisuva*
18 Aaron Esiri

*Nuneaton RFC Pathway Players

Saxon V Atherstone, Away 2pm:

Steve Orton, Ryan Evans*, Tyler Freeman*, Joe Franklin*, Clive Brampton, Connor Kirton, Greg Freeman, Thor Sidhu*, Marcus Holt*, Josh Wright, Charlie Smith*, Lewis Cox*, Rhys Astin*, Scott Cawley, Harry Pipe*, Ben Gilbert*, George Wallis*, Ben Powell, Adam Stauvers*, Blessed Gurajena

Regional 1 Midlands Round 8 Fixtures:

Banbury V Kenilworth
Bridgnorth V Long Eaton
Derby V Burton
Syston V Stourbridge
Dudley Kingswinford V Bromsgrove
Nuneaton V Silhillians

Regional 1 Midlands Round 7 Results:

Bromsgrove 64-19 Derby
Kenilworth 22-64 Bridgnorth
Long Eaton 28-5 Dudley Kingswinford
Silhillians 32-43 Burton
Stourbridge 55-33 Banbury
Nuneaton 28-36 Syston