Worthing are ready to fight fire with fire in the cut-throat battle for promotion from London One.

The division has never looked stronger than this season, with resurgent London Scottish and Richmond favourites to go up.

Worthing, who open their league campaign at home to Thanet Wanderers on Saturday, have responded by putting together their best squad in years.

That is how skipper Jody Levett sees it as he leads a squad which includes four prominent summer signings as well as Ben Coulson, Simon Alcott, Ryan Storer, Ben McGowan and Mike Imrie, all of whom were injured at the end of last season.

Worthing have rattled up 143 points in two Powergen Cup wins and Levett said: "That was a great confidence boost. It was important for our three new Kiwis and Danie Venter to get integrated in games rather than training and they feel settled now.

"Richmond are going to start the league as favourites, London Scottish have a large area to call upon and Cambridge and Canterbury will be up there but the squad we've got this year is the best the club has had for a long time."

As well as South African lock Venter, previously with Brighton, Worthing have signed New Zealanders Jamie Stewart-McDonald, Duncan Taylor and Rowan O'Gorman.

Stewart-McDonald, 29, is a wily inside centre or No.10 who has played for New Zealand Divisional XV and will double up as Worthing's youth development officer.

Taylor, also a centre, has played for Nelson Bay while O'Gorman is from Canterbury and plays at No.8. Both are 23.

Mick Orton is Worthing's first team coach and Tony Weaden director of rugby following the departure of Ian Davies to Haywards Heath.

Davies has injury problems at his club after flanker Dave Wattam suffered a broken ankle in training.

Wattam is out of Heath's tough-looking National Three clash at home to Barking, as is full back Andy Cook, who has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury.