Rovers were reasonably comfortable 25-15 winners when the two sides met at the Friarage in late September and will start as favourites to complete the double over the Collierymen despite the fact that their recent record at the Welfare Park is not particularly good. Horden are sure to be fired up for this clash and the Whites will have to make sure that they front up from the first whistle since some of their last couple of matches at Horden’s HQ have seen them allow the hosts to get off to a flyer and establish an early match winning lead.

The White Shirts can look back, however, on a hard fought 11-5 win during their first season in North Two East in 2004/05 as proof they can win at Horden.

The Friaragemen welcome back Brian Foreman after the full back suffered a nasty leg injury in the Boxing Day win over West Hartlepool and he and brother Andrew as former Horden players will be looking to make an extra special effort for the White Shirts. Michael Barnfield and Gareth Foreman are also fit to resume after sitting out last week’s surprise loss to Mowden Pard seconds.

In the pack, Michael Tucker returns at loosehead and Stuart Palmer, Stewart Grazier and Michael Taylor are back in place as the first choice back row. On the bench are Dean Cook, Iain Pinchen and Steve Barnfield.

Much might depend upon the outcome of the kicking contest between Chris Sainty and Andrew Turner and the ability of both attacks to try and pierce the solid defences of the teams.

Exchange referee Bob Cooke of the Liverpool Society is the man with the whistle.

Horden: (from) Grand, Heckles, Bruce, Purvis, Witte, L Watson, Turner, N Hartley, Heckles, Temple, Greener, Bennett, Malcolm, Thubron (c), James, McDowell, Davidson, Thompson

Rovers: B Foreman, Sainty, P Hall, Lilley, M Barnfield, G Foreman, A Foreman, Tucker, J Cushlow, Wise, Power (c), D Smith, Grazier, S Palmer, Taylor. Subs: Cook, I Pinchen, S Railton

Referee: Bob Cooke (Liverpool Society)

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