If Richmond are to secure a top six National Division One finish they will have to do it without the services of skipper Rory Damant.

The former London Scottish centre tore a calf muscle the day before last Friday’s 44-6 defeat to Rosslyn Park to add to director of rugby Steve Hill’s growing list of injury absentees.

Matt Keville (sprained elbow) and Jamie Kyle both limped out of action last week but are expected to be fit for Saturday’s trip to Loughborough Students.

Fly half Andy Hall, centre Jamie Falconer and winger Will Brown are already on the treatment table at the Athletic Ground.

But, now clashes with Park, Coventry, Ealing and Blackheath are out of the way, Hill is confident Richmond can close the gap to the top four.

“We’ve been playing well of late and I don’t think the scoreline reflected the game last week,” he said.

“We’ve played Ealing, Coventry, Blackheath and Park and we did well to get six points out of the first three of those games.

“We’ve had a tough patch with injuries too, but all teams have that.

“We have some tough games still to go, but our aim is to finish in the top six and I think we can get there.”