Rochford manager Graham Pratt has warned his players not to take anything for granted as they prepare forSaturday's big London League Division Three derby game at Canvey Island.

Rochford, who haven't played a competitive match since their victory over Thetford on December 11, are hoping to continue the run of good form which has seen them lose only once in the League this season.

But Canvey have pulled off some impressive results against their close rivals in recent seasons, and Pratt is realistic enough to admit his side are in for another tough game at Tewkes Creek.

Last season the teams fought out a battling draw, while Canvey completed the double over Rochford the previous year by adding a Cup win to their League victory.

Pratt said: "I know their League position is lower than ours at the moment but local derbies, especially Rochford against Canvey, are always closely-fought affairs.

"Games at their place, especially in front of a big crowd, can be a war of attrition. They know how to intimidate us and the matches are always close.

"Canvey play a certain style of rugby that we don't always react well to, but this year we are pretty confident."

The welcome return of Simon Webb and Russell Faint helps to swell the team's confidence, while skipper Andy Lipscombe, a former Canvey Island favourite, always raises his game for matches against his old club.

The match, along with Basildon's Third Division game at Colchester, adds a little shine to a generally low-key weekend in the London League, with opponents' Cup commitments causing the cancellation of the scheduled fixtures for both Thurrock and Southend.

Thurrock are giving their players a well-earned rest after the Tetley's Bitter Cup defeat by Harlequins, but Southend have pencilled in a friendly against Chelmsford at Warners Park as they look to shake off the rustiness caused by the recent lay-off.

The enforced Christmas break was more helpful for Westcliff, who welcome back a host of injured players for their Eastern Counties Division Two clash with Cantabrigians in Cambridge.

Scrum-half Simon Wells, winger Lee Smith, No 8 Dave Castle, forward Matt Stanford and Australian full-back Nick Harry all return for the luckless squad, who have lost an estimated 20 first and second team players to injury in recent months.

Clearly relieved coach Don Faulkener sounded a rallying cry for the struggling side, who have just a single point to their name this season, saying: "Now we are getting some of our injured players back, we hope that results in this half of the season will at least be better than those in the first half."

Meanwhile, Billericay welcome Old Cooperians to Willowbrook as they try to get their challenge for a third successive promotion back on track following a surprise setback against Upminster before Christmas.

The Eastern Counties Division One outfit have no injury worries to report as they prepare to face a team they hammered 43-12 in the Essex Senior Cup earlier in the season.

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