Having struggled to make any sort of impact in front of their own supporters last week North Walsham will be hoping to make amends when they travel to play Rochford Hundred on Saturday.

The Essex side have not even fared as well as the Vikings thus far and are still seeking their first win of the season.

There is no recent history between the two clubs as, according to records, they have never met in league or cup action, although there is a feeling that there were friendly encounters some years ago.

A host of injuries and unavailability will leave Nick Greenhall with selection problems and the side is likely to have an unfamiliar look to the travelling supporters.

Starting with the forwards, props John Pymm and Robin Praat both have leg injuries and Iain Beck has family commitments.

The options for the front row are limited but may be eased if Tim Weber can travel back from University. The most likely solution would be for Tim Mason to take on the hooking duties with Mark McCall moving to prop

The absence of Beck whilst disappointing can be covered by the one of Tom Coller, Grant Furlong and Chris Hamilton partnering Chris Kent who will move forward to make way for Gerald Hegarty in the back row.

The changes in the back line caused by the unavailability of Tony Kingsmill, Adie Ball and Henry Dewing are perhaps more problematical than those up front.

Shane van Vuuren, who joined the club as a No 9 but who has played most of his 50 games on the wing will cover for Dewing while the centre partnership could be filled by Andy Pybus and Chad Seeley with new signing James Hodgson on the wing.

Outside half Ethan Reed suffered a back strain last week and will undergo a late fitness test which might necessitate Greenhall dusting off his boots as cover.

The Raiders were due to play Beccles at Scottow but they were also hit hard by injuries last week and therefore have had to call off, a decision not taken lightly but it will enable players to recover.

The Vikings don't have to look far to get advice on beating Rochford as their neighbours Diss did so on Saturday, convincingly enough (24-13) to raise hopes that they have what it takes to very soon be challenging for a place at the top end of the table.

Tomorrow Diss will hope to carry that form into a trip to Essex to face one of the clubs immediately above them in the London One North table, Thurrock – who are fresh from a 15-15 draw with Bury St Edmunds.

Many Diss fans will be travelling south immediately after a morning gathering at Bellrope Lane to watch the crucial England v Scotland World Cup match.

The club are enterprisingly marking the big match by staging a 'World Cup Breakfast' – starting at 8am and costing �10.95 per person.