Jonny Boatman is the man at the nuptials, Peter Hodgson has a family celebration to attend at Disneyland, while Jamie Connolly, Dave Garside and Paul Rudd similarly committed. Carl Robinson has work commitments, Henry Tones is injured and Chris Stewart has tired of travelling the A19 and has joined Northern to help them out of a front row crisis. To cap it all coach Kevan Oliphant is poorly.

So in comes Andy Dixon at hooker with John Greenwell alongside him. Adam Howard is in the back row again where he will be joined by Tim Sawyer who will be using his experience at No 8.

Luke Watson's experience also gets him the nod at scrum half, with Andrew Cheslin moving in from the wing to take Hodgy's No 13 shirt. That gives the hard working Darren Thomas the opportunity to return to the first team.

Young Harry Readhead, whose long pass has been one of the plusses of the season so far, will be on the bench alongside flying winger Adam Larkin and seasoned campaigner Anthony Cameron. Cam will be missed by the Stags as they take on CaNDY rivals Tynedale Raiders at home.

A decision on who will partner Tom Dixon in the second row will be made on Saturday morning.

Sadly, the knock on effect of all the missing players is that there are not enough fit backs to go around, and the Bucks game at Tynedale has had to be called off. Given the weather forecast for gales and rain the Bucks may not be too disheartened.

There's an even worse forecast for the Greater Manchester area which could mean it a day for forwards.

West: Tom Wilson, Darren Thomas, Andrew Cheslin, Paul Moss, Scott Butcher, Gavin Robinson, Luke Watson, Anth Carr [capt], Andrew Dixon, John Greenwell, Ben Lloyd/A N Other, Tom Dixon, Dan Boatman, Adam Howard, Tim Sawyer, Reps: Adam Larkin, Anthony Cameron, Harry Readhead.