Navan resume with a tough Highfield test

The long trip to play Highfield in Cork awaits Navan as they resume their AIL Div 2B campaign on Saturday, but their cause has been boosted by the return of Eoin King. The talented prop now returned from a spell abroad is expected to feature for Navan for the immediate future at least. Also back from working in Germany is Thomas Clarke and he, along with King, has been training with Leon Jordaan's side over the past week or two. Hooker Johnny Baker has also returned after a very long spell out with a neck injury and it remains to be seen if he will be available for selection. Navan got back into action with a friendly against Bective Rangers at Balreask Old on Friday night. They will be eager to shake off any cobwebs ahead of what is sure to be a very demanding challenge against Highfield. The Cork side lie only six points ahead of Navan in the table with a score difference of plus five. Jordaan's team has a score difference of minus 17 and it is that statistic that gives lock forward John Duffy hope that they can turn narrow defeats into invaluable victories. "It's not a lot. We were well beaten by Cashel, but there was no-one else who you could say was that good, there's not much difference between the teams in this division." Duffy asserts that it's vital for Navan to take something from their two forthcoming away games - against Highfield and then Connemara - in order to pick up from where they left off. "We had momentum built up before Christmas, we won our last game against Armagh fairly comfortably and it's important after such a long break to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible," he said. "We have a good side, we're creating chances but we're not putting them away, we're not doing ourselves justice in games, finishing games. "We would be definitely targeting to win these two games because training has been going well. We've a couple of niggling injuries, but we should have a full strength team. I'm looking forward to those matches," said Duffy. Navan may well look back on that Armagh game at Balreask Old and reflect on the high-quality fare they produced in the first-half that left the visitors from the north in the shade. They may also look at the how the second-half panned out for them when Armagh came more into the game, dominated up front and gained a foothold. It was with some relief that Navan heard the final whistle to win 22-12. If they can bridge the gap between chances created and scores taken then Navan will give themselves some chance of winning on Saturday although, against a seasoned Munster side on their own patch, a bonus point may well be the best they can collect.