LAUNCESTON have made just one alteration from the side that beat Matson last weekend for Saturday’s mouthwatering local derby at Okehampton (2.30pm).

The All Blacks saw off their Gloucester-based visitors 46-3 at Polson Bridge, and head up the A30 to tackle an Oke side who have dropped to third bottom in the table.

However, Okehampton seem to raise their game against Launceston, and comfortably come out on top in the head-to-heads between the two in recent seasons.

September’s clash in North Cornwall saw Oke pull off a surprise 20-15 victory, and know they could do with another one after being beaten 37-23 at fellow strugglers Ivybridge last weekend.

When Launceston headed up to The Showground in February, Okehampton also ran out winners by a solitary point after Dan Pearce’s last-gasp kick came off the post. Pearce, who hasn’t missed a game for Launceston in several years, is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in a collision last Saturday.

His absence means Ben Bryant moves to the left-wing with Todd Crofts coming in at inside-centre and Cam Fogden switching from the 12 to 13 shirt.

The bench does see three alterations.

With prop Cian Baker and lock Leion Cole unavailable, second team captain Ollie Martin provides front-row cover on the bench, while flanker George Bone is back and takes his place alongside scrum-half Adam Collings who was skiing last Saturday.

Launceston head into the game fourth in the table, ten points behind leaders Devonport Services, and eight behind second-placed Chew Valley, and with the rest of the top five to play, they still have an outside chance of gatecrashing the promotion places.

This weekend’s big game is at Astley Park as Brixham, just a point behind Launceston, welcome Devonport.

A Brixham win and a Launceston victory will close the gap even further, and with the All Blacks having home games against Exmouth and St Austell during the rest of the month, there is plenty to play for.

Chew Valley will be heavy favourites to win at bottom side Weston-super-Mare, while Barnstaple, who are third but have played a game more, welcome in-form Exmouth who are putting together a good run.

There is a Gloucestershire derby as Matson welcome Lydney in a game the hosts need to win, while Ivybridge who have climbed up to fourth bottom in recent weeks, visit St Austell, the side directly above them in the table.

LAUNCESTON at Okehampton: James Tucker, Ollie Bebbington, Cam Fogden, Todd Crofts, Ben Bryant, Glenn Coles, Tom Sandercock (capt); Ethan Pearce-Cowley, Levent Bulut, Alex Bartlett, Dan Goldsmith, Albert Horne, Tom Bottoms, Lloyd Duke, Brandon Rowley. Replacements: Ollie Martin, George Bone, Adam Collings.