National Cup and Shield - England's Lucas set to make Legends bow

The outside hitter, who has been playing in Denmark for ASV Elite for the last two seasons, was part of the England squad to win January’s Five Nations Championships. 

He has now returned home to concentrate on his professional career, so will link up with the Oldham-based club for Shield and Greater Manchester League games. 

He will be joined in the squad by fellow international Chester Searle – formerly of Malory Eagles and Stockport – who announced his retirement from England duty earlier this year. 

Legends, which started up at the beginning of this year and has partnered with Polish club Metro Warsaw, is keen to establish a strong junior set-up as they look to engage with youngsters between the ages of eight and 14. 

But this match will be a great chance to assess where they are at from a Senior perspective going into the 25-26 campaign. 

Their match with the Islanders at Failsworth Sports Centre will start at 1.30pm, as both sides seek a place in the Last 32. 

Elsewhere, there are a host of men’s ties - and some women’s matches - being staged tomorrow, although the lion’s share of the women’s fixtures take place on Sunday. 

In the men’s section, NVL Division Three Central side Nuneaton Inferno host non-NVL team and fellow West Midlanders BDS Gurdwara, Birmingham. 

There is a cross-border battle in the West Country where NVL Division 3 South West side Bristol face Team South Wales (non-NVL) at Avanti Gardens. 

East side of the country meets west on Humberside as Hull Thunder (Division 2 North) host Garstang Natives (non-NVL), while London’s non-NVL side Brazukas make the short trip north to take on MK City (Division 2 Central). 

Norwich Spikers (Division 2 Central) make the journey north and west to meet Leeds Gorse 2 (Division 2 North) and Darkstar Derbyshire (Division 2 North) will tackle Doncaster-based non-NVL side West Park Miners. 

One team already through in the men’s draw are The British Army after they beat Newbury in a straight sets, non-NVL battle (28-26, 25-20, 25-19) on Thursday night. 

In the women’s section, there are four ties on Saturday and include Oxford Eagles’ meeting with Cardiff Falcons – two sides who are also set to go head to head in NVL Division 2 West this season. 

Non-NVL side East Grinstead Queens will play Cambridge (Division 2 East) in Sussex, while York Falcons (Division 3 North) tackle The Miners Doncaster (Division 2 North) in an all-Yorkshire battle and Coventry and Warwick Riga (Division 2 West) meet local rivals Nuneaton Flames (non-NVL). 

As attention turns to the action on Sunday, Division 3 South West’s Bedminster will meet non-NVL side Winchester Eagles, Rhinos Cambridge (Division 3 Central) go to Worthing (Division 2 East) and NVL newcomers Everton Seadragons (Division 3 North) host Sheffield (Division 2 North). 

A round-up of the National Shield matches will be published early next week. If you have any images or videos you would like to be considered to feature, please email them to communications@volleyballengland.org by Monday lunchtime at the latest.