HEAD coach Dan Protherough believes that Droitwich RFC are set for a good season - if the players stay fit.

Droitwich begin the Midlands Division Four West (South) with a testing trip to Evesham this Saturday (3pm start).

Protherough, who joined the club in June, believes that if players attend training then Droitwich can do better than last season's fourth place finish.

Protherough has been trying to foster a more professional attitude in the pre-season period.

He said: "The biggest thing you have to change is the culture of training. It's really about these players realising their full potential and they can only do that by making sure the players are fit. Fitness at this level is very important, if they're not coming to training then we are relying on just their natural ability.

"If the training has been good then more players will come - they really need to buy into what we're trying to do."

Droitwich have named 24-year-old Dean Goddard as the new captain, while experienced player Jon Andrews is head of rugby. Spa have signed former Stourbridge and North Midlands captain Duncan Hughes, centre Richard Allen and kept the young squad that showed promise in the 2005/2006 campaign.