After their success in finishing runners-up at the televised 6-a-side National Indoor Hockey Finals at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham last weekend, Surbiton return to 11-a-side outdoor league action this weekend.

Last Sunday, cheered on by their band of travelling supporters, the Long Ditton-based club beat Loughborough Students 7-5 in the first semi-final before their armchair followers could join them in watching their team go down 9-5 to reigning champions and firm favourites East Grinstead live on Sky Sports 3 in the final.

This Sunday, they won’t be on the box and not many supporters are likely to follow the team all the way down to the West Country to see them resume after the winter break as leaders of England Hockey League’s elite outdoor National Premier Division, with 26 points from 10 fixtures.

But it will be no formality away to rock-bottom University of Exeter, despite the promoted club having garnered only one point from their ten games which included being beaten by their visitors 6-2 in the reverse fixture at Sugden Road in October.

However, for this rematch – and for at least the following five of their remaining eight fixtures - Surbiton will have to play without their four already World Cup-selected England internationals: Richard Alexander, Matt Daly, Ben Hawes and Rob Moore.

And it could be five if James Tindall is chosen ahead of Reading’s Simon Mantell for the final 18th spot in the squad to play in the World Cup at Delhi from Sunday, February 28, to Saturday, March 13.

Meanwhile, all five internationals flew out this Monday for six days training at Seville in Spain, including two full internationals against the Netherlands on Thursday and Friday.

While they were away, their clubmates got a taste of playing without them as they went down on Tuesday evening at Sugden Road 5-4 to ninth-placed league rivals Hampstead & Westminster, who they had already beaten in their two league fixtures - 5-2 away in September and 2-1 at home in November, when both sides were at full strength.

This Tuesday, Surbiton’s scorers were James Ashcroft with a hat trick and Alberto Esteban Velasquez with the third goal.

Ironically, Hampstead’s opening goal was scored by Dan Fox who, just two days earlier, playing for Surbiton on indoor forms, had scored their opener in the semi final against Loughborough Students at Nottingham.