SKIPPER Chris Rowley says Stoke are out to recapture their swaggering best form.

Rowley's men, who have won all 14 matches to sit top of Midlands Two West (North), were shaken, but not stirred as they saw off Leek last weekend.

It was the first time this term the Barlaston-based high-fliers had gone in trailing after 40 minutes.

Normal order was restored in the first 15 minutes after the break, with converted tries from Dave Bennion and Ben Cornwall setting up an eventual 26-13 victory.

But Rowley, pictured below, is anxious for improvements when his side travel to Aston Old Edwardians on Saturday.

He said: "We were not quite ourselves against Leek. There are no real excuses, we were just a little bit sluggish. We weren't executing our play as well as we have been.

"We had a bit of a roasting at half-time, although it was perhaps more constructive than a hair-drying.

"Credit to Leek, they have improved a lot since we last played them. They were a decent team.

"It was close, but we picked up five points and they got none. We did the job and hopefully we can get everyone back firing on all cylinders straight away."

Simon Price is missing at Aston, so Rob Spruce will cover at centre. Prop James Shaw is also unavailable.

Rich Brown comes back from holiday and will slot straight into the back row, while Sam Yorke will be given a run out at hooker in place of Rob Glenn.

Rowley said: "We are mixing it up a little bit due to unavailability and giving a chance to give a couple of lads who have played well in training.

"Chris and Sam have both been working hard and it's good for them to have an opportunity."

It is a home match against Lordswood Dixonians for LEEK, with the Moorlanders hoping for a repeat of the 18-17 win they picked up in Edgbaston in October.

STAFFORD host rock-bottom Shrewsbury hoping to reproduce their showing against second-placed Old Saltleians, when they were unlucky to go down 20-11.

The defeat leaves Stafford in seventh, but still within touching distance as high as third-placed Bridgnorth, who are only six points better off.

Coach Andy Lewis said: "Last Saturday was a huge improvement from the previous week and proved to everyone what we are capable of.

"We need to take this intensity into the next match – and then onwards."