For the firsts that means Andrew Dixon starts at hooker and Paul Rudd switches to his usual second row. In the backs Peter Hodgson is on holiday so Gavin Painter will start at inside centre. Providing he has recovered from an ankle injury, Colin Chdeslin will be on the wing. The Cheslin twins have been among a number of up and coming players who have trained hard during pre-season - there were more than 40 players out again this week for each session. Danny Weegram and Neil Howe are also set to make their first appearances of the season.
There is a tremendous buzz about the place but Sunderland will be arriving on the back of two wins, at Rovers and Durham City, and still smarting form their play off defeat at York. Meet 1.30.
Consett kindly stepped in to give the Stags a fixture and, without any other game on Saturday, will provide stiff opposition to a young team packed with talent and looking forward to their first season in the CaNDY league. Meet 1.00
Firsts : Thomas, Hare, Edwards, Painter, C Cheslin, Wallis, Williamson, Carr [capt], Dixon, Robinson, Davies, Rudd, D Boatman, Tones, J Boatman. Bench: Phillips, T Dixon, Weegram, Howe..
Stags squad: Swales, A Cheslin, Robinson, Todd,Dougherty, Masshedar, Waites, Moss, Dougherty, Cholmondeley, Butler, Coates, Hogan, Robinson, Lloyd, Young, Garside Richardson, G Robinson, Bbellerby, M Tones. Jackson, Anderson, Best, Wood,