Playing for places' warning from Corbet

PHIL CORBET said that Guernsey's countdown to the Muratti and the Island Games 'begins for real' this week. The island coach yesterday named his squads for Thursday's South-West Counties Championship match and Saturday's Commodore Ferries Cup against the Royal Navy. He warned Guernsey's top players that they were now 'very much playing for places in the big games to come'.

'The SWCC has always been about preparation for the big matches and we're very much in the run-up now,' said Corbet.

The island boss was scathing of Guernsey's big-name players at the end of last year, accusing them of being 'fat', 'overweight' and 'cumbersome'. He said yesterday that he expected to see a definite improvement in this week's games.

'I was critical back in October, but I think that fitness levels have improved. Perhaps the players are playing a few more league games now, but I think there's also a degree of looking after themselves better.

'We've already had two fitness assessments - they are a part of trying to change attitudes a little bit - and we've got another one planned for the end of this month. But I'll be speaking to one or two players because I still think that they're underachieving by their standards.

'We're very much in the run-up to the Muratti and the Island Games now. Our next game, after these two, is against Gloucester and then it's the Muratti

semi-final. People are playing for places for sure.'

Island skipper John Nobes, Steve Brehaut, Kevin Gilligan, Matt Falla, Craig Tyrrell and Paul Nobes are all ruled out through injury. But there is a place for Vale Rec.'s Tristram Morgan - despite his ineligibility for the Muratti and Island Games - and Michael Wilson, Damian Tardif, Tony Vance and Matt Le Cras return to the first-team squad to play on Thursday.

'Tristram is a class act. He played very well again against North (on Sunday). Having lost Steve Brehaut and Kevin Gilligan, I needed an old head. He's playing really well at the moment.

'I'm pleased that Michael has come back in. Having lost John Nobes, Michael gives us a degree of versatility.

'He's playing in the middle of midfield for his club at the moment and I've had very good reports about his performances from people whom I trust. He can play at centre-back, right-back and left-back and he's good cover.

'Tony is very experienced and understands the game, especially now that he is coaching. He's in purely on ability and, as with everyone else, it's up to him to grab the chance to stay involved for the big games coming up.'

Corbet named 16 players in his first-string squad for Thursday and just eight in the second-string squad for Saturday, which will include several of those who will have featured on Thursday.