Coach Bob Crooks was the first victim when Cambridge’s financial problems were revealed a few days ago and two of their most effective players, back row Darren Fox and prop Brad Cooper have already moved on, joining Championship club Bedford for the remainder of the season, with uncertainty surrounding other squad members who will no longer receive any pay.

But Maynard is only too aware of what happened last season when, by an uncanny coincidence, Cambridge’s future was uncertain because of a tax problem and Cov were their first opponents.

“A lot of our players will remember what happened then – they came out, threw the ball about and ripped us apart,” said Maynard.

“We have to put their situation out of our minds and just make sure we concentrate fully on what we have to do. They beat us in injury-time over here in October, so we know what they can do.

“Last week’s result against Barking has done us a deal of good, winning is good for confidence and the mood of the camp, and there was a different air to everything at training on Tuesday.

“Now we need to take that performance forward and move up another level.”

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