SCRUM-HALF Rhys Powell has returned to Southend Saxons and will go straight in to the starting line-up for tomorrow’s crunch clash with Dings Crusaders at Warners Bridge.

Powell left the Saxons back in 2010 after opting to retire from National League rugby.

But he has now come back to the club to line up against the Crusaders in National Two South tomorrow.

“It’s great to have Rhys back with us for the Dings game because he brings a wealth of experience with him,” said Southend’s director of rugby Chris Green.

“We’re taking week by week and we’re picking a team we think we need to win this weekend.

“That’s nothing against the other two good scrum halves we have here, Harry Branch and Lester Pollard, but we just think Rhys will be the best bet for this game.

“He’s played National One in the past, he’s played well in the twos for us last weekend and he’s trained with us all this week too so we’re putting him in tomorrow.”

Southend will be hoping Powell can help them pick up their first victory of the season after they kicked off the new campaign with two successive defeats.

The second of those came at Shelford last weekend as the Saxons were seen off 18-6.

But Green is still confident his side can enjoy a good season.

“If we can start doing ourselves justice then things will start to improve and the results will come,” said Green.

“I haven’t even looked at the league table yet because it’s still too early but it’s a big game tomorrow, just like everyone else.”

Dings Crusaders secured their first victory of the season last weekend, beating Lydney 24-22.

However, Southend will still be missing a number of key players against them this weekend with Daniel Legge, Sam Fombo, David Jackson, Danny Cleare and Sonny Gay all out injured.

Seventeen-year-old back row Chris Shields, formerly of Rochford Hundred, will again be on the bench.

The match at Warners Bridge kicks off at 2.30pm.