Reading look for edge at Surbiton

Jonty Clarke is one of the Reading players away on England duty

Reading Hockey Club can go top of the EHL Premier League table if they beat Surbiton on Saturday.

Both sides are unbeaten in the league so far this season, although Reading could only draw at Bowden last week.

Coach Ben Barnes told BBC Berkshire: "Our games games against Surbiton always have great importance.

"There's a great rivalry between the two teams. We've been up in the top three or four along with them for the past 10 years."

He added: "It would be great to get a win against them, to build our confidence heading into the Christmas period. We certainly want to get the upper hand on them this weekend."

Both teams have several players away on international duty but Barnes says Reading have prepared for this.

"We're now into the second phase of the season where the England internationals are away with the World Cup preparation and the Champions Trophy duties," he said.

"But we've got good depth of squad and have rotated the team well for the first eight games of the season, so all of my players have experience and have played regularly.

"Everyone should be up to speed and I'm pretty pleased with how we've performed."