Dubai Hurricanes are expecting a backlash from Abu Dhabi Saracens after they lost their proud home record following a narrow defeat to Dubai Exiles last week.
Sarries had previously gone more than a year without losing at fortress Al Ghazal and Canes’ captain Dan Perry is expecting a tough game on Friday, although he says his men can also take great encouragement from Exiles’ triumph in the capital.
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“On the back of beating Jebel Ali Dragons and getting back to winning way we’re looking forward to the game,” said second row Perry.
“We’ll take encouragement from Exiles going there and winning, even though we are expecting a bit of a backlash from them having lost their impressive home record last week.”
Canes are still without the influential Craig Chapman in the front row. New Zealand fly-half Andy Powell is also expected to be out until 2016 with a leg injury, but former Abu Dhabi Harlequins’ player Paul Beard was in good form with the boot in last week’s 28-24 win against Dragons.
“We’ve got a few lads unavailable with work commitments too but we’re taking a good team to Abu Dhabi,” added Perry.
“We haven’t clicked yet, we’re not the finished article. We’ve perhaps shown 50 per cent of what we’re capable of so there is more to come from us.”
Sarries, meanwhile, are looking to channel their frustration from defeat last week, and joint head coach Stephen Hamilton says his team are determined to put the mistakes made in the 6-5 loss behind them.
“There was a lot of frustration after last week,” he said.
“A few things were not controlled well and we want to right a few wrongs. We’re looking to use this week to see a spike in our performances.”
Sarries do welcome back Fijian Vito Tuivione while South African centre Sean Stevens could finally make his first appearance after his summer arrival following recovering from a fractured hand.
Despite Sarries’ slow start, Hamilton believes his side are stronger than the one that won the West Asia Cup last season.
“You have to consider how poorly we started last year,” he said.
“We feel stronger than last year so it is frustrating we haven’t hit the road yet but we still have our strong pack and a better backline and we want to utilise that more this season.”