We are back to 3.00 kick offs again for the visit of Birkenhead Park. The Merseysiders are also sitting comfortably in mid-table and, with just six games to play, the 10 point gap with second placed Rossendale is probably too large to give them a chance of a play-off place.

An even bigger battle is raging to avoid the bottom three, and the visits of Morley and Beverley will provide some highly charged rugby at Brinkburn in the coming weeks.

Our aim is still a top six finish which would be an excellent return in our first season back in the national leagues. Five of our last seven are at home but results have proved all season that this is a highly competitive league where nothing can be taken for granted.

We discovered that at Upper Park where we played well, with a much changed side, and were leading 10-7 with only a quarter of the game left. The home side came back strongly, but we had a bonus point in our hands only to concede two frustrating tries deep into injury time.

Tom Dixon is fit to return, after his recent minor operation, and he will be in the second row alongside Chocky Davies. Anth Carr is unavailable so Michael Hogan moves back to the front row.

Its no surprise that Andrew Foreman is missing after that horrific clash of heads with Jonny Boatman last week so brother Gareth continues at scrum half,  Stu Waites is at 10 and Col Cheslin at full back. Greg Edwards starts on the wing.

On the bench it's a very welcome return to Carlo Robinson and Gareth Eddy who is now fully recovered from his wrist operation..

WEST: Colin Cheslin, Scott Butcher, Andrew Cheslin, Luke Watson, Greg Edwards, Stu Waites,  Gareth Foreman , Michael Hogan, Liam Bailey, Adam Coates, Andrew Davies, Tom Dixon, Dan Boatman [c], Jon Boatman, Michael Taylor. Reps: Paul Moss, Carl Robinson, Gareth Eddy.

BIRKENHEAD PARK: Dave Hall,  Mike Chapman,  Greg Hughes, Danny Rich,  Mark McKeown,  Anthony Handley,   Sam Chidley,  Martin O’Keefe,  Stuart Brown,  Paul Cassidy,  Colin Campbell,   Chris Saidi,    Sean Mooney,   Ben Shepherd,  Dave Ibbotson. Reps:  Rob Houliston, Jack Ashcroft,  Matt Ibbotson.