But then on Tuesday a harmless tackle in training saw the inside centre receive yet another freak injury. He badly dislocated his ankle and broke a bone in his lower leg. He'll be on the surgeon's table soon and no doubt laid off for months.

Paul's still only in his early twenties, but has had the worst luck with serious injuries that anyone can remember. He takes them all with a stoical shrug and will, no doubt, turn up every training night for his rehab session with Gez. The whole club will be absolutely delighted when he finally appears once again in a first team shirt.

In the meantime there's one or two doubts over who'll be wearing those shirts in the intriguing derby battle at the Friarage [kick off 2.15].

The coaches want to start with the team which beat Rochdale last week in an entertaining and open encounter. A few colds, and a few niggling injuries, has meant that some of that squad haven't been able to train this week, and there'll be a final roll call in the morning.

It will be an early one as the Stags and Heughers have a noon kick off at Brinkburn to allow them to get across town to watch the league encounter.

There's no doubt all the pressure will be on Rovers. Horden's back to back derby wins has given them a real chance of avoiding the bottom three and both Rovers and Durham City are now anxiously looking over their shoulders as the "Leds" come steaming up. To add to the intrigue City are at Welfare Park tomorrow.

With two relatively easy wins against the old enemy this season West will start favourites. But it is an extremely young side and it will be interesting to see how they cope with what promises to be a tense affair.

Unlike the Horden game the weather promises to behave itself with near ideal conditions for running rugby.

West squad Hare, Lambert, Edwards, Howe, Todd, Painter, Tighe, Young, Carr, A Dixon, Norris, Robinson, Rudd, T Dixon, Miller, D Boatman, Myers, J Boatman.