Our visitors have not failed to get a try bonus point in any of their 15 games so far, and currently lead the table on 72 points with Durham City and 65 and West on 64. If we can nullify the scoring threat and earn a win it would keep all three sides in close contention.
We are hoping we will not live to regret failing to get a try bonus point at Hartlepool Rovers last week. Coasting 27-3 at half time, and with three tries already in the bag, we took our foot off the gas and failed to get that all important fourth in the 30-17 win.
There may also be another price to pay with a number of injuries from that day - most notably for player coach Stu Waites, Gavin Painter, Joe Rafferty and Adam Brown. Gav is definitely out with his knee injury while the others have been receiving treatment.
With Jake Linighan missing through work commitments, John Bunter and Chris Atkins look likely to continue their solid show in the second row. There could also be a boost with back row Scott Butcher back in training after suffering a badly gashed knee in the win over Barnard Castle back in November.
West: Zac Southern, Adam Peacock, Will Hilditch, Peter Youll, Max Tennant, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter (captain), Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Danny Cookland, Chris Atkins, John Bunter, Isaac Robinson, Alex Barker, Adam Brown
Changes: Joe Rafferty, Scott Butcher, Callum Johnston.
Northern: Elliott Trott, David Reah, Joe Young, Zac Appleby-Rutter, Louie Tang, Harrison Clark, Ali GRAY, Matt Hirst, Liam Mullick, Patrick Douglas, 4. Ed Kell, Chalky White (capt), Phil Kay, Ben Smallwood, Tom Burt.
Changes: Rob Liley, Dan Matthews, Sam Wilson.