Johnson is back in fray

CARL JOHNSON is itching to get back into action tomorrow. The Guernsey captain has missed his side's previous two London Four South-West games due to suspension but he returns to the starting XV for the clash with Petersfield at Foote's Lane, which kicks off at the earlier-than-usual time of 1.30pm.

The skipper, who has been training regularly, joked: 'At my age, you cannot afford to be out for too long or you don't get started again.'

Not that the Sarnians have struggled without him.

Under the temporary leadership of Steven Thomas, they have maintained their 100% start to their campaign and they are hot favourites to make it seven wins from seven tomorrow.

Petersfield lie seventh in the table with two wins from their six games and they have lost three on the bounce.

These two sides last met in Hampshire One in the 2001-2 season, the year Petersfield won the league, finishing six points ahead of third-placed Guernsey.

That season, the honours between the two teams were shared, with both winning their home game.

'Three years ago, in the year they went up, we were the only team to beat them. They were by far the best team in the league,' said Johnson.

Injury worries are minimal for Guernsey this weekend, with the only question mark hanging over Jim Elliott's fitness.

However, big lock Jon Flynn is unavailable and so there is a slight reshuffle in the pack with Dave McGall dropping back into the second row and Gareth Nicolle playing tight-head prop.

Going into the match, Johnson reiterated the view of head coach Rob Box in saying that it was important for the squad to concentrate on Petersfield before looking ahead to the top of the table clash away to Dorking in eight days' time.

'It is two points for every game,' he said.

'Often in past years we dropped points against the lower sides and it cost us come the end of the season but last year we corrected that. Hopefully that is what we are going to do again this time,' added Johnson.