Sheppey coach Frank Davis accepts that his side are heading back down after just one season in Kent 1.

Davis, whose side take on Old Olavians at home this Saturday, realistically need to win all five of their remaining matches just to have a slim chance of staying up.

He said: “It’s out of our hands now, and to be fair winning promotion from Kent 2 last season probably came a year too early for this young side.

“But everyone at the club has been encouraged by the rugby the team has been playing in recent weeks, and I really believe that - if we are relegated - we will bounce straight back next year.

“The team has come a long way this season in terms of their attitude, and in their understanding of how league rugby should be played.”

Last Saturday a Sheppey Development squad played Canterbury in a friendly and, although the match was a useful run-out for Davis’s side, it didn’t come without cost. Rob Allen broke his thumb and so is ruled out this weekend along with Jason Crofskey (shoulder), while Jason Bricknell is rated as 50/50 by Davis, again because of a shoulder injury.