Canterbury Rugby Club head coach Andy Pratt has called for a huge festive crowd to pack Merton Lane on Saturday to cheer them on in their table-topping clash with Cambridge.

The city club are third in National 2 South, a point behind Saturday’s visitors, who occupy the sole promotion play-off place, with leaders Hartpury 10 points clear.

Canterbury are seeking an eighth-straight home win and fifth in six games overall, following their 27-22 success at promotion-chasing Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.

Pratt is hoping for a big gate for the visit of Cambridge – relegated from National 1 last season – and said: “We had a good crowd for the last game and they were a real factor in us winning that game. These 3pm kick-offs with the closing stages under floodlights have a special atmosphere.

“If everyone who has been to at least one game this season came on Saturday, it would be incredible.

“The last game was a fantastic game of rugby and our backs are the highest-scoring in the league. It’s a good product we’re putting out there.

“Go out, finish your Christmas shopping but then come down to the club for what should be another great game.

“Bring everyone, your sister, your mother-in-law, it doesn’t matter. We want a big crowd behind us.”

Pratt said his players were keen to avenge the 24-14 defeat at Cambridge in September but admitted it will be tough.

He said: “There is a lot of focus on the game because of how close the sides are and I think we have surprised some people by being up there.

“They have plenty of National 1 experience and have their sights on going back up. They are a big club and had a crowd of 1,500 last week.

"We want to do well at home and if we are going to try and achieve our objectives, then we also want to try and hurt the teams who are up around us.

“We didn’t come away with a point when we lost there and they took five off us – there is some unfinished business.”

Ben Massey will miss out with a fractured eye-socket sustained against Stortford but Matt Pinnick and Kwaku Asiedu should be fit and George Micans will replace No.8 Rob Lennox, who is relocating to the West Country due to his Army career.