THE forwards may not get the headlines normally but Swindon coach Sean Lynn knows that they will be vital this weekend if his side are to beat Devizes.

Lynn is expecting a physical contest when they travel south for their second local derby in the space of a week, having fallen to league-leaders Chippenham 26-12 last Saturday.

Swindon were on the wrong end of a 42-19 score-line the last time they travelled to the Saddlebacks at the end of last season so will be wary of their hosts despite them losing their last seven games.

“We need to be on top of our game because they are not a bad outfit,” said Lynn.

“They were very physical upfront and they have a sharp back three so we can’t have any loose kicks with them.

“The front five are not usually the ones that get in the paper but the front five is what will win you the game and they have got to have another big performance on Saturday.

“We know they’re a good outfit. They haven’t had a run of results this year but I was very impressed with them last year and we are not going to take them lightly.

“It will be classed as another local derby and they are definitely going to be up for it and we have got to go hard at it as well.”

Swindon are currently sitting in fifth place in the South West One East Division but last weekend’s defeat to Chippenham took its toll physically.

The Greenbridge Road side will be without Paul Daniels, hamstring, for the trip on Saturday and Lynn will be hoping to get a few more back before the game.

“It has been a good start to the season and we have come up with some really good wins. What is nice is we are playing some nice rugby and we are defending a lot better this season which is good,” he added.

“It was a really good game (with Chippenham), we could have scored with two opportunities but we didn’t take our chances and they did and that is why they are top of the league and it was a good learning curve.

“The boys picked up some niggles on the weekend so our physio is working over-time just to get them fit for the week but I am sure that is the same for every other squad.

“Paul Daniels is a senior player in the forwards and a loss to the side but we have got some youngsters coming through.”

FIXTURES:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13

South West One East: Bletchley v Windsor, Buckingham v Trowbridge, Chippenham v Towcestrians, Devizes v Swindon, Grove v Reading, Leighton Buzzard v Newbury Blues, Witney v Maidenhead.

Southern Counties North: Alchester v Wallingford, Aylesbury v Stow-on-the-Wold, Beaconsfield v Royal Wootton Bassett, Bicester v Milton Keynes, Drifters v Marlow, High Wycombe v Thatcham.

Southern Counties South: Bradford-on-Avon v Swanage & Wareham, Corsham v North Dorset, Dorchester v Salisbury, Frome v Sherborne, Midsomer Norton v Supermarine, Wimborne v Walcot.

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier: Abingdon v Swindon College Old Boys, Chesham v Reading Abbey, Chipping Norton v Slough, Gosford All Blacks v Littlemore, Wheatley v Hungerford.

Dorset & Wilts One North: Calne v Cricklade, Fairford v Trowbridge II, Marlborough v Devizes II, Minety v Melksham, Pewsey Vale v Chippenham II, Swindon II v Combe Down.

Dorset & Wilts One South: Blandford v Westbury, Dorset Dockers v Bournemouth II, Ivel Barbarians v Wimborne II, Oakmeadians v North Dorset II, Sherborne II v Frome II, Warminster v Lytchett Minster

Dorset & Wilts Two North: Chippenham III v Bradford-on-Avon II, Melksham II v Sutton Benger, Royal Wootton Bassett II v Avonvale, Supermarine II v Colerne, Swindon College Old Boys II v Bath Saracens, Trowbridge III v Corsham II

Dorset & Wilts Three North: Alfred's Nomads v Warminster II, Combe Down II v Swindon III, Devizes III v Melksham III, Minety II v Supermarine III, Westbury II v Royal Wootton Bassett III.