Inter Services Champions the Army take on the Navy for the Babcock Trophy at Twickenham on Saturday 1st May.

The Army have won the bragging rights on the previous eight occasions but in 2010 the result is wide open.

A well prepared Royal Navy team thrashed a young RAF side 73-3 and the Army are now the main targets for their broadsides. They are hungry to put the last decade behind them and show that they have rekindled their appetite for a pretty mean scrap.

The Navy pack has hardened in recent times and will again lead the assault. Lock Marsh Cormack and hooker Gaz Evans will drive the turbines in the engine room. In a strategic change England 7s international Greg Barden has switched from centre to No7. He is primed to spearhead initiatives to lead the heavy mob forward.

At half back skipper Dave Pascoe has found form at the right time. He has the experience to direct matelot manoeuvres. The Navy backs star is England 7s international Josh Drauniniu whose mercurial running will test the Army's defence.

The Army have again prepared at a high-tempo training camp in Cape Province, South Africa. Intensive training and two hard matches have brought the squad to a timely peak. Front row Chris Budgen (Exeter Chiefs) and Barbarians Matt Dwyer and Melvyn Lewis are experienced Twickenham hands.

The Army back row includes Gloucester's Apo Satala, the Fiji captain against Romania, who has a World Cup Sevens winner's medal. He will deploy alongside former Scotland 7s Skipper Mark Lee who captains the Army for the third year. Ben Hughes at No8 will be seeking his 29th Army cap - a record.

The Army backs are 'tasty' with Fiji international fly half Jack Prasad back from Afghanistan. Wing Gus Qasevakatini, who scored three tries in the Army's 50-3 win in 2009, has got more than rugby talent. Gus went home in the summer 2009 and became 'Top Of The (Fiji) Pops' for twelve weeks. The Army's Got Talent!

Army coach WO2 Andy Price, of the Welsh Guards, who has recently returned from Helmand Province, said: "It is all about preparation for this fantastic game at the home of England Rugby. For the Army our performance is a combination of top class rugby, Regimental pride going back hundreds of years and a 'thank-you' to our comrades who might be 'elsewhere' on 1st May. Even in Helmand Province most will be able to watch the match on television at some point in the day."

Both the Army and Navy want to provide a spectacle, at the right time, and run with the ball. Twickenham in front of 55,000 partisans is the place to do it.

The Charity supported by this year's match is SSAFA Forces Help.

Tickets: Ticketmaster 0844 847 2492 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

The Army v Navy match kicks off at 3.00pm on Saturday at Twickenham Stadium with a curtain raiser from the Combined Services U23 v Oxbridge U23 at 12 noon . Music will be provided by the Band of the Duke of York's Royal Military School and Classical BRIT Winners Blake.