DAVID Dunn believes Sam Hardcastle is starting to finally overcome his injury nightmare and show his true class.

The influential Lions scrum-half was sidelined for a year, missing the entire 2009/10 campaign while waiting for ankle surgery.

And Dunn reckons the former Malvern and Havant number nine is only now starting to rediscover his best form.

Dunn, whose league leaders travel to third-placed Redingensians in National Three South West tomorrow, told the Echo: “Sam missed a whole year with an ankle injury and it has taken him a while to get back into form.

“But we are now seeing the Sam of old. He is relaxing and finding a lot of space. He is a class act.

“He has played at a higher level in the Midlands and played in Australia, but he, like a few of our lads, enjoys the local club spirit and I am hoping they can all move up to the next level here. They are good enough players and they deserve it.”

Lions can all but end Redingensians’ own title hopes with victory at Old Bath Road tomorrow, while Dunn’s side could take a massive step towards the title if they can triumph at second-placed Chinnor on November 19.

Lions: (from) Searle, K Lynch, Connolly, Stewart, Bruce, Flynn, Chislett, Hardcastle, Wareham, R Lynch, Wilford, Manning, Seward, Forrest, Hennings, Stanton-Ketchley, Dunkerley, Hart, Pollard, Crombie.

• The team coach for the Redingensians match leaves at 11am and supporters are welcome.

Elsewhere, Swanage & Wareham will be looking to build on last weekend’s 20-13 South West One East win over Bletchley when they visit Salisbury tomorrow.

Swans: (from) Dunsford, Parish, Prior, Alner, Warren, D Jones, Harris, Tomes, Sheldrake, Smith, Andrews, Frampton, Burgess, Collins, A Jones, Maginn, Marshallsay, Woolley, R Elford, Rowberry.

• In Southern Counties South, Wimborne will be hoping to bounce back from a big defeat against Devizes when they host Dorchester at Leigh Park.

Oakmeadians, meanwhile, visit Devizes, while North Dorset travel to Corsham.

All Blacks: Unwin, Hunt, Green, Hopkins, Orchard, Murphy, Morris, Wareham, Llewellyn, Willingdale, Wilkinson, Van Wyk, J Brokenshire, Mikolajewski, Maltman, Busby, Barker, Horne.