BULLISH Will Croker insists "rank outsiders" Bournemouth will be as hostile on the pitch as they will be hospitable off it when they take on promotion rivals Camborne tomorrow.

The Chapel Gate clash could prove hugely significant in the National Three South West promotion race with Lions just three points adrift of second-placed Dings Crusaders.

Trailing behind runaway leaders Old Redcliffians, Dings occupy the one available play-off spot and Bournemouth and Camborne are among a string of teams in with a shot of catching the Landseer Avenue side.

Discussing his team's prospects in tomorrow's high-stakes clash, head coach Croker told the Daily Echo: "We are going to have to be on our mettle.

"Camborne started like an absolute train but losing Ian Morgan as head coach set them back a bit. But they have righted the ship since then and are a good team.

"They have a long journey ahead of them and when they get here, while we will be hospitable off the pitch, we need to make it hostile for them on it. If we play our A game, we have got a real shot of winning the match.

"I think we are still rank outsiders for promotion. We have Camborne at home, Old Reds away and a monster journey to Bromsgrove. We have Newton Abbot and Salisbury to play at home as well, and they are no mugs.

"Naturally, we are slightly behind the curtain but we have a very proud bunch of players who know they have let more games through their fingers than they should have, and are determined not to lose any more in such a way.

"This game might have a bearing on who gets second spot but it's certainly not the be-all and end-all. There is still a lot of rugby to be played. We will worry about the play-off spot if and when we get there."

Kick-off has been brought forward to 2pm to allow supporters to watch England's Six Nations clash with Scotland on television afterwards. And Croker wants a bumper crowd to urge on his troops on home turf.

He added: "We are hoping to get a good crowd to cheer us on. At our last home game we had nearly 300 and I'd love to get it somewhere between 400 and 500 this time.

"Saturday's game will be two teams who want to attack and play proper, running rugby, so it will be an entertaining game and a case of who scores more."

Croker is boosted by the return of expert kicker Grant Hancox at full-back, while Dan Stewart returns on the wing.

Alex Everett-Bolter and Andy Spikings are still out but Alex Sutherland is on the bench following the horrific facial injuries he sustained at Bracknell in September.

A hearing had been due to take place last night over whether Jack Hennings would face a ban following his dismissal, brought about by two yellow cards, against Launceston last weekend.

Lions: M Davies, Richardson, Firetto, Treloar, Kenneally, Hennings, Manning, Rees, Hardcastle, A Davies, Roberts, Chislett, Gleadowe, Stewart, Hancox. Replacements: Levey, McDonald, Sutherland.