Coach Matt Corker has identified where he thinks Canterbury Rugby Club’s eagerly-awaited derby at Tonbridge Juddians could be decided.

Little separates the two National League 2 East clubs ahead of the crunch clash this Saturday.

With seventh-placed Canterbury’s four-match winning run ending at home to Henley last weekend, they are behind Tonbridge - albeit both sides have 35 points.

Canterbury, who will be backed by a healthy away contingent, were 45-19 winners when the teams met at Merton Lane in September.

Corker said: “We came out on the right side of this game at home.

“I think the maul battle will be really important.

“It’s been a real strength of ours - and they will be aware of that but they have improved in that area, as well. That’ll be a real battlefield!

Report: Canterbury 33-43 Henley

“We’re on level points but we’re one place behind them. In terms of a local derby, I cannot see [more riding] on it.

“Our focus is going to be getting back to what we’re capable of from the first minute and showing that to our supporters.”

Indeed, the derby at The Slade will be both clubs’ last competitive match of 2023 as they look to respond to losses.

Juddians were edged out 16-12 at Barnes at the weekend despite a try from hooker Will Holling and another by Sam Evans, who converted his own score.

Corker added: “Going into a two-week break, things can really change around.

“We have got the opportunity to go into Christmas on a high or feeling quite deflated.

“We’re four out of five wins now since the World Cup Final. Four in six doesn’t sound anywhere near as good!

“So, we’re super focused on finishing the year on a high and getting back to our very best rugby.”

Canterbury head into the clash after a 43-33 defeat to Henley.

The hosts rescued a losing bonus point after they had found themselves 43-7 behind before tries from Eoin O’Donoghue (2), Tom Best and Shay Kerry, which were topped up by Frank Reynolds’ conversions.

Corker reflected: “I will never make excuses because we’re in charge of our own destiny and that’s really important.

“The disappointment is we didn’t turn up in the physical way we wanted in the first 50-odd minutes and conceded seven tries. When the game was gone, we scored tries.

“It was quite a humbling experience for us. The learning probably was you need to be at your best from the first minute against the top teams - otherwise, you get found out.”

Asked if there had been some ring-rust for his players as they returned to competitive action for the first time in a fortnight, Corker replied: “Potentially.

“But I said last week that the rest came at a good time for us.

“After Christmas, this is going to happen more because we will have more scheduled breaks. We will need to turn up in the right mental space, otherwise the result will be very similar.

“The boys are all very disappointed because that’s not where we have been the last few weeks and not how we have been playing.”

But Corker could take some solace from the fight Canterbury showed late on - even though the result had already been virtually determined.

He said: “I would have loved the game to have gone on another 10 minutes.

“For us, conceding first after half-time, that made a difficult task virtually impossible.

“Going downhill in the second half, 31-7 wasn’t insurmountable but those two tries early in the second half really put it out of our reach.”

Before Canterbury’s Tonbridge trip, Kent 1 leaders Canterbury Pilgrims host Thanet Wanderers 1sts tonight.

“Friday night at Merton Lane is always really exciting, especially against a strong rival,” Corker said.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”