HEREFORD Rugby Club's skipper Jason Lewis is hoping the fuel crisis does not prevent Scunthorpe visiting Belvadere Lane on Saturday.

Lewis is concerned his side's stop and start season does not cut out again as Hereford continue to misfire.

The Wyeside club have lost their first two games of the season including Saturday's disappointing home 16-12 Tetley Bitter Cup defeat to Spalding.

Lewis believes Hereford will spark into life against their Yorkshire counterparts but it will not be easily against the well-oiled outfit who have finished second in the league for the past two seasons.

He said: "We were desperately disappointed not just in Saturday's result but our performance because we never showed what we are capable of.

"In fairness, though, we still haven't been able to field our full strength side for various reasons.

"People are starting to drip back into the side but we need them because we play most of the top sides in the first few weeks."

Hereford welcome back a number of key players. Second row Andrew Johnson comes in for Rob Atkinson who has a shoulder injury while Kieron Griffiths returns. Finbar Evans, Jeremy Weedon will also feature but they are still without Spencer Grogen and Simon Lively. Grogen is on his honeymoon while Weedon is still serving a ban after being sent off in last season's cup final.

* Droitwich begin their Midlands Division Four West campaign against Trinity Guild at the Memorial Ground (3pm).

It will be the first time the two sides have met and vice chairman Steve Bradbury knows it is important for Droitwich to bounce back quickly after their 14-12 Intermediate Cup defeat by Old Halesonians at the weekend.

He said: "We are determined to put the defeat right. We failed to wake up for the first quarter and surrendered a 14-point deficit.

"The encouraging aspects of the game were the heavy scoring of full-back Rob McClean and Neil Evans moving back to centre."

Droitwich welcome back second row Rob Bray with Jon Fidoe taking his place on the bench.

* Coach Ross Baxter gets his first taste of league action in charge on Saturday as Kidderminster Carolians take on Telford at Marlpool Lane.

KCs took the Midlands West Two title last year but now face a tougher time in Division One.

Baxter said: "We haven't played that many teams in Division One before so it will be a new experience for the players.

"But I think we are well equipped for life in this division."