The Hertfordshire side are the National One team the visitors have played the most in their history, the two clubs clashing 14 times in recent years.
It was Stortford who racked up five straight wins to take early dominance, Rams hitting back with the next eight before their opponents triumphed 34-25 on the heels of a dominant maul at Old Bath Road back in February.
Almost all the games have been close-knit affairs, and the DoR admitted: “They came here and played a fantastic game, thoroughly deserved winners.
“Further back we came up through the leagues together and they’ve always been very good fixtures apart from early in National Two when Andy Long’s side taught us a few lessons and then when they blitzed the league.
“It’s a great place to go, they’ve got a lovely pitch, and we’re looking forward to the game.”
Injury-hit Stortford’s struggles ‘nature of National One’
He continued: “They’ve not had the start they’d have wanted, but it’s the nature of National One – we look at them and see a quality side with very good players, doing very good stuff. We’re under no illusions.
“We’ll have to watch out for the maul, but more the focus is on what we’re doing as a side and our development.
“When we looked back at last year’s home fixture the change in our guys is just huge with the retirements, and with respect to any opposition, that’s what we’re looking at each week.”
Rams make three changes to the starting line-up as George Breese goes from the off for the first time in place of James Baker at tight-head.
No Breese into starting slot for George
With prop remaining a position of strength for the visitors – 103-cap Ant Marris and Ryan Lomas missing out on the matchday squad as Max Marshall comes in for a potential debut off the bench – Seb said: “George deserves it.
“The timing feels right even if it was to his frustration, but he’s knocked down the door.
“He was desperate to play early, but he was coming off the back of an extended 18-month season in New Zealand and it’s difficult to come straight into a new environment, new club, new job – and now I’m sure he’ll take his chance.”
Elsewhere, Aaron Tull swaps the bench for a starter with Ben Atkins at blind-side flanker, while Swedish ace Axel Kalling-Smith slots in on the left wing.
The returning Kalling-Smith scored tries in games against Lithuania and Croatia to lead his side to the top of the nascent Rugby Europe Trophy in the past fortnight, and Seb is excited to have him back.
He said: “Axel’s always fantastic, he loves playing for Sweden and what he contributes to their side is wonderful.
“He plays well wherever he is, and we welcome him back and hope he has another good game.”
