HEAD coach Will Croker insists Bournemouth have a “sensational” replacement for Grant Hancox in Adam Davies.

Lions’ goal-kicker Hancox will be absent for the first time this season when his team take on Launceston at Polson Bridge tomorrow (2.30pm).

However, former Basingstoke boss Croker says fly-half Adam Davies will be an able deputy where kicking duties are concerned.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “Adam is an 85 per cent kicker. He was our kicker at Basingstoke in the season we got promoted and was averaging something like 24 points a game.

“He is a sensational player. Grant’s absence will be felt but I don’t have any concerns about the goal-kicking because Adam is more than capable.”

Mike Davies is set to make his first-team debut at loosehead prop while ex-Bath academy forward Joe Spiller is on the bench.

Lions will also be without broken thumb victim Joe Rees.

Croker said: “He’s talking about cutting the cast off so he can play against Camborne next week before getting it re-set on the Sunday morning. But we will have to wait and see on that.

“Losing Joe both in terms of his play and his leadership on the pitch is a big body blow.”

Lions: Boyd, Everett-Bolter, Gleadowe, Chislett, Roberts, A Davies, Hardcastle, M Davies, Richardson, Firetto, Treloar, Kenneally, Hennings, McDonald, Manning. Replacements: Elliott, Soden, Spiller.