With five matches and an already stretched squad, October at Weybridge Vandals will be as much about recovery as it will be hard graft.

Head coach George Pickersgill's side entertain Winchester on Saturday looking to bounce back from a bruising 38-23 defeat at Old Tiffinians last week.

It is the second of five consecutive match weekends this month when Vandals will also face Tottonians, Havant II and free-scoring Wimbourne.

Ironing out the set-piece and disciplinary issues that were ruthlessly exposed at Old Tiffs topped the list of priorities for the squad this week.

But number eight Cameron Edgar, who will play hooker on Saturday, reckons what happens away from the training ground will be just as important as how the players perform on it.

"Five games in a month represents a big challenge. The boys need to look after themselves, but we also need to train hard," he said.

"There is a big focus on recovery. We really need to listen to our bodies, gel together and make sure everyone is playing their part."

More of the same: Vandals will be looking to repeat last month's performance against Guildford when Winchester visit Brownacres on Saturday

History is not on Vandals' side when they line up against Winch on Saturday, with the visitors having won 12 of the past 17 clashes between the two teams.

The last time they met was in February 2016 when the visitors edged a 'thriller' 8-9 on the Island in the old London Division Two South West.

Current first team players Adam Bullett, Harry Brooks and Harry Reed - as well as assistant coach Joe Spencer - were part of the squad that suffered relegation that term winning only four games as they finished second bottom in the table.

The incentive to win for both teams will be strong with maximum points possibly enough to edge either side into the division's top four or higher, with first playing second and third playing fourth this weekend.

"We can take real confidence from our performance against Tiffs," added Pickersgill.

"They threw the kitchen sink at us in the first ten minutes, but the boys stood up to that physical challenge and maintained the same intensity through to the final whistle.

"We know there are areas we need to improve - particularly with our set-piece and discipline - but if we can get those right and build on the positives from last week, I'm confident we'll put in a strong performance."

Team: Keefe, Edgar, Hempstead, Brooks, Weatherall J, Thornley, Hall, Taylor; Josse, Wellden (c), Brander, Bullett, Hoade, Weatherall, Krikorian. Subs: Mason, Bolger, Versavel.

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