They have won at City and earned a draw at Northern while down to 14 men for most of the game.
As a result they are now just one place behind West, but we have a ten point advantage and go into the game off the back of two away wins in which we scored a total of 90 points.
The last game was two weeks ago and the break has meant a number of players are now fit again. That includes coach Stu Waites and No 8 Jay Corbett with Davy Heckles making his first appearance on his return from Horden.
He served his apprenticeship in the Stags at Bishop Auckland and scoring four tries in the process. With Adam Larkin and Luke Mallinson both away he will be on the wing against Stockton with Stu restored to No 10.
Up front there's a powerful front row with Danny Cookland starting and the verdsatile Adam Brown dropping into the back row in place of Isaac Robinson who is also unavailable.
West : Zac Southern, David Heckles, Will Hilditch, Peter Youll, , Callum Johnston, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter (capt), Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Danny Cookland, John Bunter, Jake Linighan, Adam Brown, Scott Butcher, Jay Corbett.
Changes: Michael Hogan, Chris Atkins, Alex Barker.