Southampton's horror away form in London Division Four South-West will be put up for show again tomorrow, but they need to get a grip of this, and quickly, if they are to prevent a hasty return from whence they came last season.
Mid-table Purley John Fisher are their hosts tomorrow, so Tony Cador's men have a good chance of overturning them, especially if they can recreate anything of the showing that scared leaders Tottonians a fortnight ago.
They will be, however, without talismanic fly-half Dave Griffiths and hooker Paul Brant, both of whom are unavailable so skipper Cador reverts to the position he tried out in the friendly win over Salisbury II, fly-half, while Pete Fox continues to wear number two.
Winger Julian Robins is also out so newcomer Dave Ward makes his debut and Kiwi Chris Milne moves into inside centre for the captain. "It would be nice to get something from this game," comments the absent Griffiths. "But given our travelling history this season, nothing is being expected!"
Just 12 miles down the road, basement dwellers Trojans will be aiming to give themselves a suitable boost, but they will need to break Old Emanuel's unbeaten home record, containing three wins and a draw against Petersfield, if they are to do so.
The blue and reds journey without the suspended Russell Clarke and holidaying Steve LeBas but Nils Bernhardt and Martin Pearson return in the starting XV, while recent recruit from Surrey, Adrian Smith, takes a seat on the bench.
A victory for Richard Cheal's men would move them off the bottom and put them in the right frame of mind for their Christmas charge towards hopeful safety.
Andover beat Cobham last season at the Goodship Ground on their way to the London Three South-West title and something similar would suit them down to the ground tomorrow as they meet once more, but in very different circumstances.
The Surrey side are in the safe haven of mid-table but their hosts are rooted to the foot of the table with just one win to their name - but they will be aiming for a repeat of the 17-11 win just eight months ago.
Coach Keith Mitchell makes one change from the defeat at Gosport, with Graham Parker replacing Stuart Dawson in the second row but includes both exciting Fijians Tiko Valiamu, back from a spell with National League side Bracknell and Eric Butadroka on the bench.
"We need to offer more in attack", he said, "hence the reason we have two backs in the replacements. Defensively we are sound, but we are lacking something going forward and that has to change otherwise we are going to continue to struggle."
Gosport & Fareham are without a game - opponents, Tunbridge Wells are still involved in the Intermediate Cup. But five of their players - Steve Emm, Jon Hogarth, Dave Goddard, Sean Fanning and new signing Darrell Cooper will be swapping codes tomorrow.
The quintet will feature in the Army's TXU Energi Rugby League Challenge Cup against Leeds Association outfit Hunslet Warriors at Aldershot.
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