Valley travel to BGB Premier newcomers Swindon Supermarine looking to build on a promising start to the league campaign.

	Date Sat 29th Sept 07 Kick-off 3pm Venue Hunts Copse, South Marston, Swindon, SN3 4SF Comp BGB Premier Division Match Odds Swindon 7/5 Draw 5/2 Rugby 7/5 Striker David Stone will be hoping to add to his four goals so far this season against Swindon Head2Head P W D L F A Home 2 2 0 0 3 1 Away 2 0 2 0 1 1 Total 4 2 2 0 4 2

Since three defeats in the first three games, Rugby have been unbeaten in the last five in the league, with three wins and two draws.

Valley now lie 7th in the table, and with most of the BGB Premier sides in FA Cup action this weekend, Billy Jeffrey's side have a chance to steal an advantage on their rivals by getting a result at Hunts Copse on Saturday.

Swindon started the season reasonably well with two wins from the opening three games including a 4-1 win over Gloucester, but after four successive defeats things were looking bleak until last Saturday when they inflicted Hemel Hempstead's first defeat of the season at the Vauxhall Ground.

Marine lie 18th in the league, but a win over Rugby would see them leapfrog Valley as they are just two points behind.

Rugby's record against Swindon is good with two wins and two draws from the previous four meetings.

Both draws came at Hunts Copse with the first in 2003 when a stoppage time goal by Swindon appeared to have won the game for Marine, only for Rugby to equalise in the 95th minute.

The last meeting between the sides was in the final game of the 2003/4 season when Rugby had already gained promotion to the BGB Premier Division and the sides played out a goal-less draw.

There is just one survivor from the last meeting against Swindon in May 2004 with just captain Craig Herbert still on the club's books.

Billy is expecting another very tough game as the BGB Premier once again proved last weekend that any team on their day is dangerous.

"They have done very well to beat Hemel at home. Hemel are by far the strongest side we have played this season, and not many teams will go there and get points. It proves that the league is going to be a tight one again this season, and we will have to scrap for every point."

Town go into the game after last weekend's bruising drawn encounter with Tiverton at Butlin Road, and a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Atherstone on Tuesday night in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

Boss Billy Jeffrey was not a happy man after the club's second cup exit of the season. Speaking after the game, he said : "The performance and attitude was not acceptable tonight. We didn't look interested for large periods of the game, and the players have been told that more is expected of them."

Supermarine go into this weekend's clash on the back of an unexpected and commendable victory at league leaders Hemel Hempstead last Saturday - thanks to a solitary goal from Justin McKay. Marine manager Mark Collier's new signing Ludovic Quistan made his debut in the Hemel win, and the left winger made an immediate impression for his new club.

Billy said: "Swindon are clearly no mugs and they have done very well to go to there and win. Hemel are by far the strongest side we have played this season, and not many teams will go there and get the points. It proves that the league is going to be a tight one again this season, and we will have to scrap for everything."

Jeffrey is also looking to add to his squad following the recent departures of Matt Gearing and Willis Francis, and the unavailability of Delroy Gordon. Gearing has joined Hemel and made his debut in the Swindon defeat, and Francis has also left the club in the aftermath of the Glapwell cup disappointment.

The news on Delroy is encouraging though, after an operation to treat a cyst in his knee. Billy explained: "The operation confirmed there is no cartilage damage, although his knee will be bandaged for a minimum of 10 days, and a comeback should be possible shortly after that."

Billy also has concerns over midfielder Scott Musgrove. Musgrove picked up an ankle injury in the Tiverton draw, and visited hospital the day after for treatment on the pain. He missed the Atherstone defeat on Tuesday night as a result, but Jeffrey is hopeful he will be okay for the weekend.

One new face at the club is Leigh Platnauer - son of ex Coventry City defender and Bedford Town manager Nicky. 21 year old Leigh joins on an ongoing loan basis from Hinckley United, and he made his debut for Town against Tiverton. He was a regular feature in the Knitters' back four in 2005-06, but missed a large chunk of last season due to a stomach virus.

Following on from the Swindon game, the Valley then have three consecutive weekend home fixtures against Cirencester, Chippenham and Clevedon - with one only away trip squeezed in the middle of them on Tuesday 9th October to Hitchin.

This means that four of Town's next five games are against teams currently sitting in the bottom half of the division, and Jeffrey is looking to maximise this opportunity to kick-on in the league.

He said: "Hopefully we can keep our unbeaten run going and get some more points on the table. It is imperative that we show the focus and commitment of the Team Bath and Tiverton games, and not the Glapwell and Atherstone ones."

There is a club coach travelling to the Supermarine Stadium on Saturday. This leaves the clubhouse at 11.15am.

Rugby Town Squad From: Simon Lynn, Alessandro Barcherini, Aaron Stringfellow, Brad Harris, Craig Herbert, Stefan Morley, Leigh Platnauer, Ashley Blake, Stefan McGrath, Mark Edge, David Staff, Tom Breward, Scott Musgrove, David Kolodynski, David Stone, Akin Aladetoun.