SOUTHEND Saxons face a crunch clash at fellow strugglers Towcestrians in the London & SE Premier Division tomorrow.

Both teams are still waiting to secure their first win of the season after suffering seven defeats in succession.

But Saxons’ director of rugby Martin Jones is determined to end the wretched run of results this weekend.

“It’s a really important game and it’s one we’ve been targeting to win ahead of an important block of fixtures,” said Jones.

“We’re fully aware that our opposition will be targeting this too but I do feel as though we’ve been improving every week in the matches we’ve been playing.

“We need that to happen again at the weekend but we need the result too this time.”

Southend have yet to pick up a point this season, while Towcestrians have just a single point to their name.

But Jones feels the opening few fixtures have been unkind to his side.

“We’ve played six of the top seven and we’ve actually been in a lot of those matches for quite a while,” said Jones.

“However, I think getting that first win would make a difference to the team.”

Southend will again have last season’s captain Marcus Bloomberg in their side after he returned to the club for a block of fixtures, while full-back Harry Barton will make his second appearance since signing from Colchester.

But George Griffiths, who has appeared on both the wing and at centre this term, will miss at least the next eight weeks with a fractured hand which has been operated on.