TOTTONIANS have already proved they have what it takes to survive at London 1 South level.

And, by the end of play tomorrow, they may have an even better gauge of how they will cope for the rest of the season.

The Water Lane side’s success – they have climbed to the highest league position in the club’s history – means they are regularly taking on sides they have never met on the field of play before. This weekend is no different as Totts welcome Brighton (2.30pm).

The East Sussex club have a similar record to their hosts over ten matches in the current campaign.

They sit one place above Tottonians courtesy of a couple of extra bonus points but both teams have won six and lost four.

Tottonians coach Gavin Williams said: “They play some good rugby, have a good coach and play some attractive stuff, so we are expecting a pretty tough game.

“Their results have been similar to ours – it’s going to be a hell of a contest.

“We have played against teams at the top and ones from the bottom, and we have competed with the ones at the top and put the guys away at the bottom, so this is going to be a real challenge.”

Totts have two front row players out recovering from concussion – hooker Nick Jones and prop Nathan Burns.

Regular back row Mike Wisnewski pulls on the number two shirt while Tom Gregory moves to tighthead prop and Faisil Mutiti starts on the wing.

The squad also has one more change of note.

Mark Amey has been named on the bench, the first time he has been in the first XV line-up in over five years.

Amey joined Tottonians in his mid teens and became a first team regular in the back row before he made a move to Trojans where he helped them move up to London 1 – playing 40 games at that level.

He returned to Totts at the beginning of the season and has impressed in the twos enough in his new role as a prop/second row to be recommended for a senior recall.

Rugby is so much a part of his life that he also plays rugby league during the summer, turning out for Southampton Spitfires during the summer for the last nine seasons.

Amey, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday, said: “If I stopped playing rugby my body would pack up.

“I would just love to get on and play for a few minutes. It would be good to test myself and see what this old man has left.”