BOURNEMOUTH’s rugby players will be up with the lark tomorrow ahead of facing up to their biggest challenge of the campaign.

The Lions travel to National Three South West leaders Camborne, whose sole defeat this season came last time out at closest pursuers Old Redcliffians.

And head coach Will Croker says his players are excited by the examination that awaits them 183 miles away in Cornwall – even allowing for their 7:30am departure time.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “It’s going to be an incredibly long day but it’s actually a challenge the players are really looking forward to.

“A lot of the boys haven’t played Camborne before and they’ve established a reputation this year as a slightly glamorous side.

“We’ll prepare properly. We’re going to stop on the way for breakfast and for a walk to get the first part of the journey out of the players’ legs, then push on the rest of the way.”

Camborne’s flawless record on their own ground this term has seen them record an average of 47 points per match in five successful outings. Asked if he would concoct a game-plan designed to suppress the home team's free-scoring rugby, Croker was insistent that such an approach would merely play into his opponents' hands.

“We have to try to win,” he said. “Consolidation will only ever lead to a loss. As soon as you try to park the bus you’re inviting them onto you.

“They’re a good side and they score a lot of points. The only way to stop that is to knock them out of their stride and make them play rugby in areas of the field they don’t want to play in.

“If we let them find their rhythm it’ll be a long day at the office. But if we can disrupt that and apply pressure on them, then I don’t care who you are, you will start to crack.”

Since their last outing Camborne have lost the talismanic Joel Matavesi to county rivals Redruth. Croker admits the absence of the Fijian’s name from their hosts’ teamsheet will give his own side a boost. He isn’t sure what to expect, however, from a side sure to be smarting from their first defeat this year.

“They will want to get back on the horse as quickly as possible,” said Croker. “It was their first loss in 2016 so they’re not going to want to let that haunt them. They’ll want to correct it straightaway. It makes them unpredictable, we’re not sure what is going to come out to face us.”

If the Lions pull this off it could be a lively trip home?

“You always say on these trips, if you get the win it’s a great journey back,” added Croker. “You can never enjoy a four-and-a-half hour bus journey!”