Russell Earnshaw has identified utility player Rod Petty as the joker outside Bees’ pack who could kick-start the Silhillians’ Championship campaign.

The Damson Park outfit have not won any of their first three matches, indeed they are the only side in the division not to have taken a point so far.

Their most recent reverse came last Saturday at London Welsh where they were beaten 33-9 despite having the upper hand in the scrums.

Earnshaw was pleased with the commitment of his players at Old Deer Park and pointed to a couple of missed penalties by Simon Hunt that might have been the turning point in what for an hour was a close contest.

But the director of rugby was also upbeat about some individual performances, which, had they been forthcoming in the previous match at home to Nottingham, he argued might have produced a different result.

Petty’s fell in to that category in what was his first start of the season.

The Australian gave Bees more direction and inventiveness from scrum half and is now set to retain his place for Sunday’s match at Cornish Pirates.

“Rod went really well against London Welsh,” Earnshaw said. “The challenge for him now is to do that week in, week out because he is a bit of an enigma.

“He has got all the skills, is a really clever footballer and while he might not have the pace he once had, he still has a very good head on him.

“I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that he could be a standout player in this division if he could get that level of consistency that makes good players very good.”

Key to that process might be settling on a single position. Since the 31-year-old arrived in the UK in 2006 he has been used in virtually every position in the three-quarter line.

Originally a scrumhalf, he looked to have settled at inside centre during Bees’ promotion campaign two years ago, only to be shifted about last term.

“We are looking at him as a No. 9 this season,” said Earnshaw, who also has John Brake and Jimmy Williams as options.

“Hopefully being picked in one position will help him develop that consistency.

‘‘What can I do to make sure it happens? Shout at him.”