TITANS captain Rory Paxton is delighted to be back in action as his side gear up for tomorrow’s double-point Raging Bull Shield Division One fixture at Brunel University.

It is the third time the two sides have been due to play each other, the students postponing early in the season before the pre-Christmas Omicron disruption meant a Friday Night lights game was also pushed back.

And with time running out to complete the season, the two teams have agreed to count the result as worth double to save Brunel a return trip to Old Bath Road.

Titans come into the game on the back of a 33-24 reverse at Jersey Reds Athletic in a game Rory missed last week, but prior to that they had six wins from seven in the league.

And the skipper said: “We’re really excited and I’m looking forward to getting back out there with the boys.

“There’s a lot to play for because if we can win all our games towards the end of the season we’re very much in the running for second place and that would be a great achievement.”

Brunel have won seven of their 10 matches to date, and with plenty of games in hand on the sides above them, are well in the battle for a top-two finish themselves.

Rory continued: “They’re a decent, well-organised team and they’ve done well in the games they’ve played.

“We’re prepared and have been playing very well ourselves – we’ve been on a really good run and we hope to get back to winning ways tomorrow.”

Titans are bolstered by the return of the likes of full-back Kieran Leicester, scrum-half Sam Boyland and prop Paul Englezos, all of who have been involved with the 1st XV in recent weeks.

Six more of the 22-man squad have also played National One this season, and Rory believes that has played a key part in the success the Titans have enjoyed so far this season.

He concluded: “Because we all train together as a Senior Squad we understand the moves and structures which allows players to slide up and down very easily.

“It’s great to have those guys back, but equally a few of our guys will be looking to put their hand-up and get into the first-team for the run-in.

“We’re a really tightknit squad and it’s a great bunch of lads, and the depth this season has been the best I’ve ever known it.”