COVENTRY Rugby head coach Alex Rae is working with an almost fully-fit squad ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with Chinnor this weekend.
Only fly-half Tommy Mathews and winger Jake Henry are currently on the sidelines as Coventry look to maintain their perfect start to the season at Butts Park Arena.
And Rae is excited by the strength of the competition for places in his squad after he made seven changes in Cov’s recent win against Cambridge.
Rae said: “For one thing you want to keep players fresh, there’s no point running people into the ground when you have so many good players in an almost fully-fit squad.
“We have really strong competition for places at the moment. There’s lads who are training really well so giving them the opportunity to play and stay hungry is important.
“It also sends a strong message to everyone by creating competition for places and that creates a really healthy environment where training goes up a gear.”
Cov currently sit top of the Championship table with Rae’s men the only side to win all three of their league matches this season.
And Rae is expecting a tough test against newly-promoted Chinnor who have made an impressive start to life in the second tier.
Rae added: “The results so far are exciting for the league. It seems like everyone can beat everyone with Cornish Pirates losing to London Scottish and Nottingham beating Doncaster who then beat Ealing.
“So far we’ve been a bit away from that doing our own thing and ticking off our games. We’ve got another big game on Saturday and we’re looking forward to that and the tough games that follow rather than worrying about anything else.
“I’ve been really impressed with how quickly Chinnor have got themselves up to speed in the Championship after being promoted last season.
“When you’re a new team coming up you almost have nothing to lose as no-one is expecting much from you and they have embraced that and done really well.”
Coventry host Chinnor on Saturday, October 12 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
