Alex Codling is fine tuning his Rosslyn Park side ahead of the new National League One campaign.

The head coach takes his Park side to Cornish Pirates this weekend to start their pre-season build-up.

Codling’s side will again be pushing for promotion to the Championship having agonisingly missed out on the top spot to Doncaster Knights last season by just three points.

The Park defence was a tough nut to crack, recording just four defeats in the whole campaign – the fewest in the league – and in the process conceding the least number of points.

They were also potent in attack scoring an average of 30.5 points a game – and now it is all about fine tuning and harmony.

Codling said: “We want to play the same sort of rugby as we did last year.

“Defensively we were very strong and we scored some fantastic tries.”

“In pre-season we want to integrate the new players and introduce them to the way we want to play.

“The boys are working hard and the new guys are slotting in well.”

He added: “We need to keep improving week by week. We’ve obviously been doing a lot of conditioning and strength, but decision making is the key.

“Being able to execute skills under pressure is what makes a team successful.”

The squad travel to Championship outfit Cornish Pirates in the first of four pre-season matches.

Thereafter they face Shelford, Bishop’s Stortford and Southend before the serious business starts on September 6 at Coventry.

Codling is taking 30 players from a fully fit squad to the south-west coast, looking to use the full-length match to give all his players some game time as well as some team bonding.

“The game against the Pirates will give us an idea of where we are,” said the Park coach.

“The trip will also be a chance to bond and I know the boys are very excited.”