Cov in test of how far they've come; RUGBY UNION.

Byline: JOHN WILKINSON 

SOMETHING has to give at Headingley on Sunday when Coventry come head- to-head with Leeds in a clash between the two form sides in National Division One,

Cov have reeled off seven straight wins - equalling the club record for the second division - on their way to third place in the table.

But they concede that they will start as underdogs against a Leeds side which hasn't been beaten since their 40-13 drubbing at Worcester on September 16 and has put together a run of 12 consecutive wins.

That sequence includes a comprehensive 34-3 victory at Coundon Road on October 28, so Sunday's return offers Cov an ideal opportunity to guage just how much progress they have made in the last two months.

"Worcester and Leeds are the best two sides in the division, but on our current form we feel we can give both of them a good game and get a result," said Cov's rugby administrator Ian Carvell.

"The confidence in the side is such that they feel they can play against anybody at the moment, and team spirit has been building with the results.

"We know that this represents a harder game than any of our last seven, but we are a lot better than when we played Leeds down here and we are going up there to win. The players know that they have equalled the record and now thry intend to beat it."

Flanker Mark Ellis is serving a one-match suspension for three yellow cards and replaced by Rob Callaway, but Cov have named a side showing just one other change - Craig Turvey starting at scrum-half with Tigger Dawson on the bench - from the one which completed a double over Bedford last week after a busy week in the treatment room.

Shaun Brady and prop James Hadfield come on to the replacements bench.

"Elisi Vunipola's groin strain has responded well and Martyn Davies, Julian Horrobin and Matt Gallagher have recovered from knocks and strains," said Carvell.

"Craig played well against Moseley two weeks ago and deserves more starts - it is purely a squad thing."

Captain Lee Crofts and Ellis have both agreed terms for next season as Cov continue to make plans, and Carvell says that the club is talking to "a Premiership winger, who is currently a full-time player but is looking to revive his working career and feels that Coventry can give him the rugby he wants while he does that."

Places are available on the supporters coach to Leeds which leaves Coundon Road at 10am (cost pounds 10).

COVENTRY: Martyn Davies; Johnson, Minshull, Mike Davies, Smallwood; Vunipola, Turvey; Mika, Hayter, Revan, Hurrell, Tinnock, Crofts, Callaway, Horrobin. Reps: Curtis, Gallagher, Dawson, Hadfield, Addleton, Aston, Brady.

RUGBY Wanderers, who have home advantage, and Coventry Development meet for the third time this season with honours currently even.

Cov give a debut to new Malta cap Tom Watts at fly-half and are led by Danny Gallagher at prop.

COVENTRY DEVELOPMENT: Wood; Maisey, Read, Ham, Lloyd; Watts, Buckby; Schindler, Southwell, Gallagher, Butcher, Hunter, Dsennadi, Joyce, Hewitt. Reps: Carr, Beauchamp, Farrell.

CAPTION(S):

RESPONDED WELL: Elisi Vunipola has recovered from his groin strain