Andy Pratt vows his Canterbury squad won’t be distracted by the prospect of next week’s National 2 South top-of-the-table clash when they meet struggling London Irish on Saturday.

The city club host second-bottom Wild Geese – the amateur side of the Aviva Premiership club – at Merton Lane on Saturday but the clash with leaders Hartpury College on November 30 is the game which immediately jumps off the fixture list.

Canterbury sit fourth, two points from second spot, with four wins in five league games and five straight at home following Saturday’s 46-22 romp against Redruth.

Head coach Pratt said: “We have to remain focused. We have learned a lot in the last couple of years in this division – there are no easy games. Every team have weapons that can hurt you and whether the team you’re playing are near the top or the bottom, no game is any easier than the next.

“We’ll give London Irish the utmost respect – they have found it a bit tough so far but they will certainly be dangerous.”

Pratt’s side have seen several late leads slip in the five games they have lost and Pratt said: “We had a chat and think we have probably left about 11 points out there already this season.”

Those 11 points would have put them level with leaders Hartpury and Pratt said: “It’s going to be a big game and a hard game but we are fully focused on London Irish first.

“We cannot afford to look any further ahead or it could cost us.”

He added: “The target for the season remains the same, we want to improve on last season.

“Things have gone pretty well so far but we are a couple of injuries away from a crisis.”