Top plays fourth in National League 3 Midlands this as the Bees welcome league leaders Sheffield to Portway tomorrow (Saturday 10th December, KO 2.15pm).

If previous form is a reliable guide, the Bees will relish the challenge given that they have already defeated previous league leaders on two occasions this season – away at Derby and at home to Nuneaton.

They also come into Saturday’s game in a rich vein of form – an impressive bonus point victory last weekend up at Sandbach was their fourth win on the trot, building upon recent wins against Peterborough Lions, Old Halesonians and Nuneaton.

Yet the men from Portway will underestimate Sheffield at their peril. Currently leading the table by three points from Nuneaton, the South Yorkshire side have suffered just two reverses this season – away at Lichfield and home to Derby. Even in defeat they picked up losing bonus points on both occasions and they have also collected six try bonus points in their 12 league outings to date.

They travel down to the West Midlands unbeaten in eight games and, perhaps unsurprisingly, they also have the best points difference in the league.

In terms of selection, the Bees pack are unchanged from last week. The Koziot/Raimondi/Payne front row is retained, with captain Chris Goddard and Andrew Weaver continuing their effective partnership in the engine row. Danny Wright starts at No.8, with Ashley Scriven and Mike Stephens completing a very mobile back row.

In the backs, after an impressive performance from the bench last week, Charlie Mumford retains the scrum half berth, with Jack Jolly starting at 10. Ben Phillips partners fellow Stourbridge loanee Nathan Tilsley in the centre, with Tawanda Chipazda also returning to the left wing, where he will link up Jevon Hinds and Chris Fensome in the back three.

On the bench, Matt Spink is joined by Dan Bosworth and Max Rodman.