MAKE no mistake about it, Sunday's battle with Waterloo will be a test for the guys despite their lowly league position.

We go into the game still as leaders of National One by five points after a solid performance at Exeter at the weekend.

The pressure is now on us to win and gain a bonus point and the expectation is that we will just sweep aside the bottom team with the worst defensive record in the league.

However, after watching their performance against second-placed Leeds Tykes on video, I know they are a good, battling side. When we beat them 32-19 at their place last year, it wasn't an easy match and I'm not expecting anything different at Sixways.

We came away from the County Ground on Saturday with a good 29-22 win - the first in Exeter for the club. When you look back you can say that the result was an achievement not only because of the history but also because of the pitch. It wasn't pretty to say the least and it did not encourage expansive rugby. However, we know these are the sort of conditions we have to deal with over the next few months and the players adapted well. I thought the referee had a poor game and a number of our guys disappointed on the day, but I think overall you have to come away from those sort of places and be pleased we not only won but also scored four tries to get the bonus point.

I have been critical of the players this week because they were not playing the game-plan on Saturday.

They were going out there and doing their own thing. Great when it comes off as it did for Scott Barrow when he scored his first try for the club with a neat grubber kick, but not so good when the opposition close to within three points of us at half-time.

We basically gave them an easy two tries during the match and that is just not on when the goal difference total is looking more and more important in the context of the title race. We put the side away for 30 minutes but then we went back to a sloppy 20 minutes in the match.

I was very, very angry at half-time because we'd let them off the hook and it has happened too many times this season. The referee hardly helped the game flow as well so, as a spectacle, it was a non-event.

The great thing now though is that, after playing on such a difficult surface down at Exeter, we get back to Sixways for a game on one of the best pitches in the country. So the players have no excuses now!

I have made two changes to the side to face Waterloo with Ricky Pellow coming back into the side and Neil Lyman returning from injury.

Pellow replaces Chris Simpson-Daniel at scrum-half while Andy Collins makes way for Lyman. With the scrum-half position, I just feel that Ricky will give us something different on a good surface. He has been very impressive recently in Warriors matches and in training and deserves his chance. Simpson-Daniel has been struggling all week with a knee injury and wouldn't be 100 per cent anyway. Richard Jarman will be disappointed not to get the nod but I just feel Pellow, on the back of a fine performance in the Warriors' win at Northampton, should get his chance. He has had to be very patient for his opportunity because he has not played in the first team since September. His attitude sums up what is needed in a squad system because he has kept going, never let his head down and now he has got the stage back.

Lyman, who suffered a calf injury in December, has been working hard and was one of the most consistent performers this season for us before he dropped out the side. I am pleased to have him back but I would also say that Collins has done very well for us and I was impressed with his display at Exeter.

We are looking forward to the challenge of Waterloo but we will have to make sure we are mentally strong. As strong and as motivated as we were for the match at the County Ground.

It is easy to approach the game thinking it will be a gimme. That would be suicidal because they are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table. However, as long as we all pull together and play the game-plan we want, we will be fine.

Finally I'd like to thank the travelling support which helped the side at Exeter. It was great stuff and really made the boys feel at home. Hopefully, we can have more of the same at Sixways on Sunday.