Rosslyn Park welcome old boy Sam Howard’s high flying Old E’s to west London this Saturday and are aware of the attacking threat they’ll carry.

Former Park fly half Howard is now Head Coach at Old Elthamian’s and the effect he’s had is no surprise to Park Head of Rugby Donnie Masters.

“Sam is a mercurial figure, he was a fantastic player as well,” said Masters.

“His handprints are all over what they’re doing. We’ll expect the unexpected.”

Park currently sit eighth in National League 1 following two wins and a defeat, while Old E’s sit second after impressive victories over Rotherham, Blackheath and hotly tipped Darlington Mowden Park.

“To turn DMP over is a fantastic result, for them to win the game comfortably they’re obviously a threat.

“They play rugby, they like to move the ball around, which we do as well, and it’s sets up a nice tie.”

Masters can see similarities between Park and the weekend’s visitors who are in the second year of their project with a new team at the helm.

“We never set out thinking we were going to win every game.

“With a new coaching line up and new players this was always going to be a stepping stone season for us.

“They’re a season in to their new programme, they’re a good team and better than last season.

"It’s a building process in National 1 and they’ve got off to a good start.”

Masters reflected on the 29-19 Rotherham defeat and outlined their attack as a source of improvement.

“It’s a game we could’ve won, but give credit where credit is due they toughed it out and put us under pressure and made us make mistakes, and their kicker did not miss.

“We haven’t shown our stripes in attack, we’ve shown moments but we haven’t hit a consistent passage yet."

Rosslyn Park will most likely be without Arthur Ellis for the weekends tie after suffering an eye socket injury.