Returning Barton to be the centre of attention

ONE Antipodean replaces another when Guernsey travel to KCS Old Boys tomorrow. Nick Barton returns to the green-and-whites' starting XV after he missed the victory over London Cornish two weeks ago, but Jordan Reynalds has been ruled out.

The Australian, who went into the blood bin for a period against Cornish with a hurt nose, has been in excellent form of late, but he will sit out tomorrow's encounter with a damaged hand and a groin problem.

It means that New Zealander Barton comes into the centres rather than his usual position of flanker.

'Nick has played at centre a couple of times for us before in away games, so he won't have any problems slotting in there,' said captain Andy Bailey.

'With who we have available this week, it is a case of getting the best 15 players at our disposal out on the pitch.'

Also definitely out are backs Jim Elliott and Ben Le Huray and hooker Dave Hatcher, who are all away.

Meanwhile, influential prop Simon Sharrott is struggling with a back injury and was due to undergo a fitness test at training last night.

'We still have a strong squad, although it is obviously not our strongest,' Bailey said. 'We are being fully stretched.'

In contrast to Guernsey who are coming off a free weekend, KCS were in action on Saturday when they won a rearranged home fixture with Andover 17-13.

That was their fifth win in London Three South-West this season and they are ninth in the table.

When the two sides met at Foote's Lane in October, Guernsey ran out 39-0 winners, but Bailey is expecting a sterner test this time.

'We have met on a few occasions over the last couple of seasons and it is a pretty even record,' he said.

'They are a very well organised team and it will take a good performance to beat them.

'We have not played very well in our last couple of games away from home and the guys are focused on putting that right and we are confident we can come away with a good result.'