PRESTON Lodge Rugby Club are on the cusp of adding the National Shield to what has already been a near-perfect season when they face Caithness RFC at Broadwood Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 1.15pm.

With the East League 1 title and Regional Shield already secured, PL go into the game in a strong position with no fitness issues and an unbeaten record to protect.

The team underwent their final training session on Tuesday, before the team for Saturday’s game was chosen.

“We had the weekend off,” Mark Steedman, head coach, told Courier Sport.

“We are at full fitness which is grand – the strongest 22 available to us.

“More than anything, hopefully these boys get through training and are good to go.

“A lot of boys are young and have not experienced this before. They are champing at the bit.” With work being undertaken on the pitch at Murrayfield, the game has been switched to the artificial surface at Broadwood in Cumbernauld.

“We will try and play a bit more expansive”, said Steedman. “We know we are capable of doing that but it will depend on the weather conditions.” Caithness, who finished fourth in RBS Caledonia Regional League Division 1, make the long trip from the far north-east of Scotland.

The teams are old foes, as PL defeated the Greens on their way to winning the Bowl in 2008, and a tough match is expected.

“We’ve managed to see a bit of them,” explained Steedman. “They are similar to us with a young bunch of lads and are well organised.” They’ve beaten Perthsire [who won the division] twice so they are no mugs. It will be a tight encounter.” PL will be backed by a large support, with four buses travelling through to Cumbernauld. Although for PL, it will be business as usual come game day.

“We will just be doing everything the same as we usually do,” said Steedman. “My job is done, the players know what they need to do.

“My impact on game day is very little; they psyche themselves up. The young boys know how to get themselves ready.” He added: “The key is us playing our game. If we try and go as individuals we’ll struggle.

“We know we’re fit and we need to just play as a unit, as a team and as a tight-knit squad.”