PRIDE will be a prime motivator on Sunday when the Tigers take Cornish Pirates down at Camborne after they suffered a drubbing when the two clashed at Park Lane back in October.

It was a thoroughly one-sided affair with the Pirates taking just over a minute to claim the first of nine tries on the day to run out 3-55 victors.

"They were pretty impressive that day," said Sedgley Director of Rugby Tim Fourie, who has been struggling with a dose of the flu all week.

"They were bigger, faster, meaner and more direct than us and had the game won after 20 minutes.

"So now it will be interesting to see just how much we have improved. Our task is to go down there, not get hammered and come away with at least a bonus point."

However, there are several complicating factors that could potentially scupper that aim.

"The journey alone can be a killer, even when you go down the day before like we always do. How you deal with the journey has a big say in how you do in the game," he added.

"Because we are playing on Sunday we are unable to fly down the day of the game, so we will have to go down Saturday and stop over and historically we have not coped well when we have done that.

"The boys have to be very self-disciplined, especially when it comes to diet, after all we are not on holiday, we are down there to play a game of rugby.

"It's a mental thing and we will be starting work on them from Thursday night onwards drumming into them the importance of self-discipline and focus."

Unfortunately team selection is again affected with injuries and unavailability.

As far as the Sale loan players are concerned, Matt Riley and Martin Halsall remain with the Sharks for the time being, while Andy Vilk is away on England Sevens duty and Mark Jones is included in the Wales Under 21 squad.

Only lock Ben Lloyd and scrum-half Chris Leck will be available.

On the injury front prop Gerallt Evans is out with a knee injury picked up against Leeds last Saturday and skipper Jimmy Ponton is doubtful with a recurring shoulder injury.

Evans is likely to be replaced by Phil Gazzola, while Ledua Jope is standing by to start in place of Ponton.

Jope's place on the wing is likely to be taken in turn by Tom Albinson, Henry Monsell or Jason Duffy.

Fourie may start on the bench with Lloyd partnering Ed Norris in the second row.

The Pirates are currently third in the National Division One table, eight points behind leaders Leeds.

If they are to be prevented from dishing out another drubbing the Tigers will have to keep the likes of Samoan openside flanker Iva Motusaga quiet.

"In the game at our place he was immense and really bullied a number of our guys, so we will have to stand up to him and keep him quiet," said Fourie: "If we intend to stay in ND1 and establish ourselves we will have to find ways of controlling players like him."

One area for optimism is this season's second string. They are currently sixth in the 15-strong Miller Homes League Bateman BMW Premier Division, having won 11 of their 18 games so far.