“It’s a really important game but it’s not a must-win game.”

So says Old Patesians captain Sam Rhymes as he looks ahead to their big Counties 2 Gloucestershire North clash at Cheltenham North on Saturday.

Eight games in and the long-time rivals are locked on 34 points, the closest challengers to leaders Smiths.

The North, like Smiths, have won all eight of their games this season and would be level with them were it not for a five-point penalty deduction carried over from last season.

The Pats, meanwhile, have won six of their eight games – they lost narrowly at home to Smiths and drew at fourth-placed Old Richians – so it’s tight at the top, although with 13 games to go after Saturday’s clash, Rhymes knows there will be plenty of twists and turns over the coming weeks and months.

The Pats go into Saturday’s game looking to make it three league wins in a row against the North.

“We’re in a good place,” said Rhymes. “The squad strength is great, the 2nds are flying and there’s competition for places.

“We’re disciplined, fit, youthful and exuberant."

And they like to play front-foot rugby.

"We pride ourselves on our attacking game," continued Rhymes. “We play what’s in front of us. Our defence is getting better but attack is our strength.”

That’s true of the North, too, so Saturday could be a high-scoring affair, with the North having already scored 326 points this season while the Pats have notched 294.

The North go into the game on the back of a 47-19 win at Bredon Star at the weekend while the Pats didn't have a game – they were given a home walkover by bottom-of-the-table Brockworth.

The Pats won’t have played for three weeks when they line up against the North, so does Rhymes think that is an advantage or a disadvantage?

“I’ll let you know after the game,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll be fresh and quick out of the blocks but it was a shame we didn’t play at the weekend, we want to play.”

The Pats beat the North 36-19 at Everest Road last season and then won the return – a game played on the artificial grass pitch at Cheltenham Tigers – 51-45 at the end of March.

“I’ve just watched that game back,” said Rhymes. “It was crazy, end to end, they were running everything from anywhere. 

“I’m not sure they will be able to do that in November but they wouldn’t be where they are if they didn’t have anything about them.”

Rhymes admits that the Pats, who finished second to Gordon League last season, are still a work in progress – “We’re learning on the job,” he said – and he knows there is unlikely to be much between the two teams at the final whistle on Saturday.

So who does he think will start as favourites?

“Good question,” he said. “There’s a big race meeting just down the road at the weekend, I’ll say evens!”

Tomorrow, The Local Answer talks to Cheltenham North head coach Dan Thomas