Valley host recent national sporting headline makers AFC Hayes at Butlin Road this afternoon hoping to claim top spot outright in the Calor League.
Yesterday it was widely reported that the FA had brought sanctions against three AFC Hayes players under their betting guidelines including bans and fines.
Two of the three players - striker Lawrie Shennan and goalkeeper Ben Goode were playing only last week in the 2-1 win over Slough Town and have been handed two & one year bans respectively.
Meanwhile, Rugby have their own problems despite moving top of the table with the mid-week 3-2 win over Aylesbury at Butlin Road due to the on-going injury crisis.
AFC Hayes
Hayes will be without duo Shennan & Goode for their betting rule breaches but otherwise AFC Hayes have had a steady season and currently lie in mid-table with eight wins from their 19 games so far this season.
The Brook recorded a superb win last weekend at Slough although this was their first win for five games.
Head to Head: Rugby v AFC Hayes
Rugby generally have a positive record against AFC Hayes since first meeting them in September 2010 with four wins from six previous encounters.
The last meeting was at Butlin Road in April when Seb Lake-Gaskin scored a brace in a 2-1 win.
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There still seems no end in sight for Dave Stringer's injury problems.
Midfielders Justin Marsden (shoulder), Greg Kaziboni (knee), Sam Belcher (knee) and Robbie Banks (leg) remain on the sidelines while Stringer will be hoping the likes of left back Craig Kelly and midfielder Andrew Spencer (both ankle) will be returning to fitness soon.
Midfielder Richard Blythe should be available again after missing Tuesday's game but Lewis McBride is likely to miss out due to work commitments.
Valley Squad from: Cooper; Myles, Gudger, Rowley, Wilson, Haines, Kelly; Blythe, O'Grady, Palmer, Moses-Garvey, Donaldson, Spencer; Kolodynski, Lake-Gaskin, Piggon. |