The game at Brinkburn promises far less drama but vital points are still at stake, and there is a fight going on for the play-off place in North Two East.

A win for West, and defeat for Old Crocs at Tigers, would see us move back into fourth whereas defeat would see Rochdale leapfrog us.

Our visitors were riding high when we first met back in October, and being seen as the dark horses of the league, specially as they were an unknown quantity having been forced to play on the other sides of the Pennines. Our 19-0 win dispelled some of the myths and, like us, Rochdale have now gone on to lose six games. That game, of course, was the one where Tim Sawyer dislocated his knee in an injury described by the referee as the worst he had ever seen.

Rochdale are a well organised side with some strong runners, and it promises to be a flowing game of rugby. That wasn't the case at Horden where the gale, narrow pitch and sheer determination of the home side thwarted us at every turn.

But the coaches have stuck with more or less the same side which came unstuck up the A1086. Neil Howe does return at inside centre in place of Martin Todd who stepped into an unaccustomed role and played very well.

Anth Carr also returns after managing not to break anything vital while ski-ing. He was an undoubted miss against the Horden pack.

Chris Lambert will be making his final appearance at Brinkburn beofre leaving for Australia where he'll be playing with the Brothers club in Brisbane.

There is a late change at ref where Ken Hudson takes over from Rowan Willans. Mr Hudson is the official who stepped in at even shorter notice to referee our home game against Middlesbrough when Chocky Davies was justifiably red carded for his part in a melee in the dying minutes.

West: 15 Andrew Hare 14 Chris Lambert 13 Greg Edwards 12 Neil Howe 11 Gavin Painter 10 Davy Tighe [capt] 9 Michael Young 1 Anth Carr 2 Andrew Dixon 3 Jon Norris 4 Paul Rudd 5 Tom Dixon 6 Dan Boatman 7 Aaron Myers 8 Jon Boatman 16 Carl Robinson 17 Martin Todd 18 Phil Henderson

Rochdale 15 M Collins 14 A Harper 13 J Mair 12 G Wellens 11 A Tilley 10 S Collins 9 D James 1 T Callaghan 2 D Greenhalgh 3 A Redman 4 J Rhodes 5 C Kane 6 R Hartley 7 L Riddle [capt] 8 T Helliwell 16 D Bamford 17 A Howarth 18 H McDonald