There is a crucial derby ahead for Canterbury Rugby Club as they aim to kickstart their National League 2 East season.

The city club host Westcombe Park this Saturday (3pm) - a team with an almost identical record to their own after seven league games with 15 points.

Canterbury and Westcombe will be returning to competitive action after a blank Saturday last weekend for the Rugby World Cup Final in France.

“It’s a really big weekend for us,” admitted Canterbury coach Matt Corker. “It’s a local derby.

“In terms of us being slightly disappointed with our form so far, it’s an important game to try and ensure we’re moving towards the right end of the table, come the end of the season. Westcombe Park will be thinking the same.

“They’re coming off the back of a good win (a 59-7 thrashing of North Walsham).

“This was always going to be a really exciting game for both teams. The fact we’re at home is massive.

“We know some of our best performances have come on our own pitch. This weekend is a really big one to make sure we give our fans something to cheer about.”

Corker wants to see rugby fans head to Merton Lane to take in some club action following the dramatic conclusion of the World Cup, which saw South Africa edge past New Zealand to defend the Webb Ellis Cup.

“There’s been some fantastic games,” he said.

“We’ve had lots of people from the club go over to France. But even those of us who stayed at home have seen some brilliant fixtures.

“I’m hoping people will want to come down to us and get their rugby fix.”

Prior to an enforced break, Canterbury had played the top three in their past five games and went down 39-22 to second-placed Barnes last time out on October 14 despite tries from winger Jack Weaver and two centres in Lewis Hollidge and Frank Morgan.

But Corker has taken encouragement from those displays and thinks they are not far away from turning things around, with away trips to North Walsham and Guernsey to come after their Westcombe Park match.

He explained: “We have been on the wrong side of some pretty close battles.

“We don’t feel, with any of the games, that we weren’t in them.

“They definitely could have gone either way but not having better execution and not applying some pressure was what has let us down.

“We know - even against the best in the league - we can be competitive. But that hasn’t got us any points.

“That’s what is important to us now, to turn those performances into winning performances.

“Last week, we had a big week of training and really focused on some parts of our game. If we can improve them, we will be a much better team.

“They’re only small tweaks.

“If we can apply them, I’m sure we will push up the table.”

Canterbury’s coach has some welcome selection dilemmas as he welcomes bodies back.

“After two weeks off, we have some lads coming back to fitness,” said Corker.

“That means there’s some selection headaches, which is always a good thing.”