The former England prop was a highly popular and successful coach at both clubs before his sad death earlier this week.

He was part of the coaching set up at Brierton Lane when we were in and out of the top league, and continued to put in the graft and talent at Northern including last season's promotion. His stamp could be seen on their fighting display at Brinkburn earlier this season, and their recent  slump to second bottom place may well reflect his absence as he continued his long fight against illness.

Both teams will want to honour his memory with a flowing game of rugby, but the stakes and the heavy pitches may well be the biggest factor.

The last two West games have hardly been classics with the team finding out that the opposition  find some extra vigour when they face the club at the top of the league.

Northern, led by the affable Chris Stewart, will be no different. They proved at Brinkburn that their pack can grind it out and they have some talented backs.

We will continue to be without Adam Howard and Tom Dixon with Ben Lloyd looking to build on a solid performance in the second row last week, and Stephen Stockdale remaining at No 8.

The backs will be unchanged with Gavin Robinson the man filling the problematic inside centre berth. His hard tackling has been a major feature in recent weeks, coupled with some sharp finishing and only last week's unnecessary yellow card to blemish his recent record.

Similarly Stu Waites is looking the part at full back. He's scored himself and provided the final telling ball for a several tries.

West: Waites, A Cheslin, C Cheslin, G Robinson), Larkin, G Foreman, A Foreman, Carr, Bailey, Coates , Davies, Lloyd, D Boatman, J Boatman [c], Stockdale. Reps: Butcher, Watson, C Miller.