City of Armagh set for 'different challenge' on AIL road trip to tackle Naas

Chris Parker’s side moved into the top four after last’s Saturday’s bonus point home win over UCC - only three points behind second-place Ulster rivals Instonians.

Naas are ninth in the relegation play-off place and have an eight-point buffer over Queen’s.

“Very happy with the UCC performance,” said Parker. “I thought the group showed a lot of maturity around how they handled the management of the game and managed the flow at times...delighted to have come away with five points.

“Traditionally Forenaughts has been extremely difficult to go and we have found it difficult enough in the past as well...we know there is a difficult challenge ahead of us this weekend, they are a very expansive team and they can throw the ball about well.

“It is a different challenge.

"Everyone is scrapping for something and because everyone is scrapping for something you can move up and down the table very quickly...from second to fifth it is very tight.

“You lose two on the bounce and suddenly you’re down in the mix for the relegation play-off.

“We don’t want to go with the adage of every week...but we certainly are just looking at this week and can we get points on the board and just keep in that race for the play-offs?

"Staying in the top four is the challenge and can we keep building points?

"We know that in 1B everyone takes points off each other.

“I suppose it is getting in the changing room at 4.10pm and check what the other results are but you just want to make sure you have got your four or five points and hope that the teams around you have dropped some.”

Despite the scoreline last Saturday, Parker thinks there is room for improvement.

“I thought we could have scored a few more points,” he said. “We had the four try bonus after 45 minutes and we could have kicked on, we butchered a few opportunities when we were in the 22.

"I think it is probably just that ruthless edge when we get those opportunities...we have to make sure we take them.

“We just have to make sure we have that ruthless edge when we get opportunities are we are going to come up short.”

Josh Cunningham and Ross Taylor come into the squad, lock Noah Bell returns after injury.

In Division 1A, a run of four defeats and a draw from five games has left Ballynahinch in eighth place just four points above the relegation play-off zone.

Adam Craig’s side host fifth-place Lansdowne at Ballymacarn Park.

There is an Ulster derby at Stevenson Park as Dungannon welcome Banbridge. The Co Tyrone side are second, 13 points behind leaders Barnhall – while Banbridge are rooted to the bottom of the table, seven points adrift of Old Crescent.

Ballymena face table-toppers MU Barnhall at Eaton Park.

In 2B, Clogher Valley visit Navan, Malone are at Buccaneers while Rainey travel to Skerries.

In 2C, Ballyclare go to Cork for a mid-table clash with Dolphin while Belfast Harlequins entertain Bruff.