Cornish Pirates

Pirates v Leeds - Sunday 17/12/06 Kick Off 1400

Pirates coach Jim McKay insists his side are ready for battle ahead of Sunday's eagerly anticipated visit of National League One leaders Leeds Tykes to Camborne (2pm).

With an unblemished record at the Rec so far this season - the Pirates have claimed maximum points from their seven previous home engagements - McKay and his men need little reminding that the former Premiership side are sure to pose their toughest test yet on home soil.

"Sunday is a really good opportunity for us to stand up and be counted. It's a massive game for both sides and the first of two very tough home game for us," said McKay, whose side next week have to lock horns with local rivals Plymouth Albion. "We're not even thinking about Plymouth, our focus is firmly on Leeds and making sure we perform against those guys. Leeds are a very good side, they're top of the table, and they've certainly improved a lot since we played them last. "We've also improved a lot since that game. We've lost just once in 11 games, so it shows we've made progress too and we're really looking forward to going out and having a go on Sunday."

Coach Jim McKay

Leeds will head to the Duchy safe in the knowledge that they have already defeated their Cornish hosts this season. A late converted try from Jonny Hepworth mugged the Pirates of victory at Headingley back in September.

It was a result which certainly left the Pirates feeling deflated at the final whistle, but their response to that setback was to then go on an eight-game winning streak.

"The boys were pretty gutted that night and there were a few tears in the changing room," added McKay. "But that game has gone now and it will have no bearing come Sunday.

"Neither will the fact that we've won all our home games and got maximum points from them. Sure it's good to have those statistics, but it's all about what happens on the day, nothing else."

Having come unstuck at Otley a fortnight ago, the Pirates were quickly back to winning ways at Moseley last Saturday, the visitors heading home from the Midlands with all five points following a 42-15 success.

Despite picking up a few bumps and bruises in that encounter, the Aussie coach is hopeful he will have a near full-strength squad to pick from on Sunday. His options will be further boosted by the return of prop Sam Heard, forward Stan McKeen, centre Duncan Roke and winger Rhodri McAtee, the latter having missed the last two games because of international commitments with Wales in the IRB Sevens circuit.

"We've got a few boys back again this week, which is good," added McKay. "We'll have a final training run on Friday and then make our selection after that probably."

Whilst selection in both camps remains a mystery, one thing guaranteed is a bumper home crowd. Club officials have advised those attending the game to arrive early to help ease any potential congestion concerns.

McKay is delighted his side will have a strong home support behind them, he added: "We are always very proud to be playing in front of our supporters. Sunday is what it's all about, a great occasion, between two sides at the top of the league.

"People talk about Leeds being a very good side, but so are we. We've shown this season that we are capable of playing some real high class rugby. The difficulty is trying to maintain that high level for the whole 80 minutes.

"Up at Leeds we did very well and hit some very high standards in terms of our performance. We've done the same in other games, but not necessarily for the whole match. Every week we are looking to improve in terms of our performance and our standards, playing against a side like Leeds I'm sure we'll bring the best out of us."

Early team news for the Tykes is that forwards Pablo Bouza (bereavement) and Mark Lock (concussion) are both ruled out. However, former Bedford and Newport-Gwent Dragons full-back Leigh Hinton could return.

Former Pirate Richard Welding, who is the club's leading try-scorer with nine is a likely starter, as is former Plymouth Albion flanker Martin Schusterman and ex-Ivybridge Community College student Stuart Hooper in the second-row.

Pirates
(from): A Winnan, R McAtee, J Hylton, L Vinnicombe, H Barratt, D Bell, D Roke, S Winn, J Moore,
A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt), R Wells, A Paver, G Anderson, V Ma'asi, N Makin, D Seal, S Heard
H Senekal, J Inglis, J Beardshaw, S McKeen, C Cracknell, I Motusaga, S Betty, M Evans, T Cowley.

Adryan Winnan	Rhodri McAtee	Jonny Hylton	Lewis Vinnicombe	Henry Barratt
Duncan Bell	Duncan Roke	Steve Winn	James Moore	Alberto Di Bernardo
Gavin Cattle (Capt)	Rhodri Wells	Alan Paver	Grant Anderson	Viliami Ma’asi
Nick Makin	Dan Seal	Sam Heard	Heino Senekal	James Inglis
Joe Beardshaw	Stan McKeen	Chris Cracknell	Iva Motusaga	Sam Betty
	Matt Evans 8	Tim Cowley