by Alex Hoad

Canterbury Rugby Club return to Merton Lane for back-to-back home games against two of the top-three sides in National 2 South in the space of seven days.

Henley are the visitors on Saturday with the city club seeking to avenge a 46-31 defeat on the road in November, against a side currently third, while second-placed Redruth make the long trip to Kent the following week.

Head coach Andy Pratt said: "It’s a big task but we’re going to give it a go. We are certainly capable of beating these teams, as we showed at Hartpury College, but we need to be at our best and hope that they possibly aren’t.

"We played in an entertaining game down at Henley and I’m sure they’ll give us a lot of respect."

Canterbury have won just once against top-five opposition this season but have won four of the last five at Merton Lane and only lost three of their nine home games all season. They will remain eighth in the standings, no matter what the result against Henley.

Second row Tom Sherson is the only major doubt for Canterbury with an ankle injury sustained in the 40-31 defeat at Shelford on Saturday – a game which the city club led by 11 points late-on.

Pratt said: "I had mixed emotions about it. We scored some beautiful tries but also lost too easily in deep areas which cost us."