Enniskillen Royal Grammar face RBAI this Saturday as the knock-out stages of the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup get underway.

ERGS enjoyed a good run through the group stages to finish with three wins out of three, and Head Coach Ashley Finlay says that preparations have been going well for the knock-out stage.

“We have prepped really well over the past four to six weeks. Training has been good, with excellent numbers, as we are still competing in the 2nd and 3rd XV competition too which has really pushed the whole squad on.

“We’ve had a few disappointing results over the last few weeks but we’ve identified some key learnings from those games and are confident we’ll be ready for the task,”he said.

And Finlay feels that the run they had in the group section will stand the side in good stead for the clash with RBAI.

“The group stage was a brilliant test for us. Having two away games and one home was a difficult challenge, and all games ended up being really competitive, which is exactly what you need.

“We navigated a tricky derby fixture against Omagh when we had a lot of injuries and then a long trip to Regent House a few weeks later.

“Coming away with three wins from three gave the boys a lot of confidence and showed we deserve our place in the knock-out rounds,” he stated.

However, he is very aware that this Saturday’s game at home to RBAI will be another step up, although they have some knowledge of their opponents, having played them already this year.

“They are always one of the favourites. They produce great teams every year, so we know it is a big challenge.

“We have played them already this year so we know a little bit about how they play.

“They beat us in Belfast but it was one of those games that you come away from really pleased with how the boys played.”

Finlay feels that there are going to be a number of key areas on Saturday

“The breakdown is always pretty key in these fixtures. If we can slow down how quickly RBAI recycle the ball, it will let our defence stay on the front foot and apply more pressure.

“On the other hand, when we are in possession, quick ball will be vital to how we want to play. Getting that balance will be very important,” he added.

ERGS campaign has been hampered by injuries this season and that is set to continue on Saturday, but Finlay is pleased with the strength of the squad and stresses that the players who have stepped in have all made positive impacts.

“We have been pretty unfortunate, picking up a few long-term injuries throughout the year.

“Myles Graham, Noah Quigley, Ben Foster and Cristian Clarke will all miss the game, which is really disappointing for those boys on a personal level, and they are also very hard to replace.

“However, we have a really strong squad this year and the boys that have stepped up to replace them have all had a major impact whenever they have played, which is exactly what you are hoping for,” he added.

So, what type of performance will be required on Saturday?

“We don’t need to change too much from what we have been doing all season.”

“We score a lot of tries and can beat any team when we are on form. Quality set piece ball will be important, and ensuring we are clinical whenever we are given a chance,” said Finlay.