Birmingham & Solihull will look to bounce back from the disappointment of defeat last week up at Sandbach – the first of the season – as they travel to Newbold on Avon this Saturday (17th February, KO 2.15pm).

Despite last week’s reverse, the Bees remain in top spot in the league five points ahead of nearest rivals Peterborough Lions, with two games in hand. However, the sole focus for the squad and the performance team this weekend will doubtless be the job in hand at Newbold.

The North Warwickshire side are currently languishing second from the bottom in the Midland Premier division, winning just four of their 19 outings to date. Those wins have been away at Longton on the opening day of the season (35-41), home and away against Old Hales (20-15 and 15-38) and, just a fortnight ago, away at Sandbach (19-23). They have notched up five losing bonus points as well as four try bonus points, so they are certainly no whipping boys.

For their part, the Bees will be keen to emulate the 55-7 win registered when the two sides met at Portway in late October. Matt Spink, who scored 4 tries that day, is unavailable for the return fixture, but 11 members of the squad who did are named in the eighteen-man line up for Saturday.

Matt Probert returns from his absence last week to join front row colleagues Joe Forman and Zane Raimondi, with Keanan Cooper and Andy Weaver an unchanged second row combination from the Sandbach game. Stewart Pearl has juggled his back-row options, with fit again Michael Stephens and Danny Wright at blindside and No.8 respectively, with Marcus Brown making his second start at openside.

Jack Jolly and Max Rodman form a familiar half back pairing but with Nathan Tilsley serving a three-match ban following his red card last weekend, Ben Phillips and debutant Tyler Price form a new partnership in the centres. Jevon Hinds, Steve Johns and Harry O’Brien line up in “the back three”. Kurtis Payne is joined on the bench by Reece Donaldson and Twanda ‘Chip’ Chipadza.

The Hornets also share the coach to CV21 for their Midlands Reserve League fixture v Newbold 2nds.

Bees squad v Newbold on Avon (A, 2.15pm KO): - 1. Joe Foreman, 2. Zane Raimondi, 3. Matt Probert, 4. Keanan Cooper, 5. Andy Weaver, 6. Michael Stephens, 7. Marcus Brown, 8, Danny Wright, 9. Jack Jolly ©, 10. Max Rodman, 11. Steve Johns, 12. Ben Phillips, 13. Tyler Price, 14. Jevon Hinds, 15. Harry O’Brien, 16. Kurtis Payne, 17. Reece Donaldson & 18. Tawanda Chipadza.

Referee: - Ryan Owens

Hornets squad v Newbold on Avon 2nds (A, 2.15pm KO): - 1. George Radburn, 2. Charley Robinson, 3. Harry Smith, 4. Harry Barnes, 5. Jacob Lisle, 6. Matti Collier, 7. Sam Allen, 8. Chris Thompson (C), 9. Jack Secher, 10. Reiss Boon, 11. Ace Summers, 12. Sonny Young, 13. Ben Cooper, 14. Diaba, 15. Joe Cave, 16. Harry Jackson, 17. Pete Logan, 18. Cameron May, 19. Tom Greevy.

Sat Nav CV21 1EZ