Bury St Edmunds head coach, Jon Curry, is expecting to face a wounded animal when his side take on Rams in a National League Two South clash in Berkshire today (2.30pm).

Curry has tipped Rams as the favourites for promotion this season, but after three wins on the bounce, they suffered a surprise 18-10 defeat away at Old Albanians last weekend.

Rams’ loss on the road means that already no club in the division has a 100% record, which is quite unusual after only four weeks of the campaign.

Bury themselves are well-positioned in third spot, level on points (15) with the second-placed Rams, after notching their third win from four starts with a 22-12 home win over Barnes last weekend.

“Rams will be smarting after their defeat,” admitted Curry.

“Very rarely does it help you when the team you are about to face has just lost their last game. Rams will be hurting from their defeat, and they are at home, so they will be expecting to get back on track with a win this weekend.

“I don’t think the league is going to settle down until Christmas-time, when we should then see who is up there and who is likely to be challenging at the end of the season.

“Last weekend was a good, tough win. Barnes had highlighted that game to kick-start their season, and we were missing a few players, as you always tend to do at this time of the season, but I was very pleased with the performances of the players who came in,” added Curry.

Both Ben Leng and Mark Kohler missed out last weekend, due to unavailability and injury, but both return to the starting XV today, with Leng to operate at inside centre and Kohler at full-back.

However, No. 8 Yas Browne, who went off with a facial injury during the first half against Barnes, is not in the squad.

“Yas is likely to be out for a few weeks,” confirmed Curry.

Bury lost their opening day clash of the season, 37-45 to Henley at The Haberden, but have since beaten Old Albanians, Guernsey and Barnes.

- Elsewhere, league leaders COLCHESTER face a big game at North Walsham (3pm). Both clubs have a 100% record in London League One North, having each won their first four matches, as have Rochford Hundred.