STOURBRIDGE RFC will set off on their 340-mile round trip to National League Two strugglers Southend with director of rugby Neil Mitchell urging his side to be ruthless.

Stour will go into the game in red-hot form having won four out of their last five league games.

Victory down on the Essex coast for Mitchell’s men would see the hosts relegated.

Mitchell said: “We will go down there with the ruthless intention of getting the result we are expected to.”

John Holtby has returned from a spell in the USA but a re-occurring calf strain means he’s not expected to return until Stour host Cinderford.