SOMETHING has got to give on Saturday as Basingstoke RFC, who have won all five of their away games so far this season, travel to Guernsey looking to end the islanders’ 100 per cent home record.

Both sides are in the hunt for the London One South title going into the second half of the season, with fourth-placed ’Stoke just four points off top spot and Guernsey three points behind them in fifth.

The Channel Island side are the league’s in-form team, having won their last four games to drag themselves back into contention – but Basingstoke head coach James Croker says his players can handle the trip and fly home victorious.

“To keep our momentum going and apply pressure to the sides above us, we could do with a win on Saturday,” he said. “It’s very important that we keep ourselves among the leading pack going into the second half of the season.

“Guernsey is the toughest place to go to in the league, for obvious reasons, but we just have to make sure we prepare properly. Something has clearly got to give and hopefully it will be them. I am always confident and believe that we can win the game.”

Like many other sides in London One South, Guernsey’s main strength is in the forwards. Basingstoke were held to a 14-14 draw by title rivals Old Elthamians on Saturday but Croker saw enough quality from his side to suggest that they can beat anybody.

“We have just got to go there and make sure our conversion rate is better,” he said. “We are getting into the right areas of the park but need to make sure we are more clinical.

“Guernsey have recruited a new scrum-half and a big, lumpy pack who form the basis of their game plan. A lot of their tries have come through their forwards in previous games so we will need to deal with that threat.”

Basingstoke are making the trip to and from Guernsey in a single day, with the game kicking off at 12.30pm to fit in with their flights.

Croker is short of centres going into the match, with Callum Staff (ankle) and Matt Guilfoyle (groin) both doubts, meaning that Ceri Cummings could be asked to move from full-back to play alongside Freddie Gleadowe.

“Losing Matt would be a big loss as he has been playing very well,” Croker said. “If neither of them are fit we will go into the game with a centre partnership we are not used to but I am confident we can deal with that.”