This time last year we travelled to Sandal for our first game back in the National Leagues and hardly turned up. The omens for the rest of the seasons weren't good - a point rubbed in by the home coaches who seemed to be taking some pleasure following the West officials up and down the touchline making comments to each other  such as "wasn't expecting it to be this easy and we're missing half a side" etc. etc. 

Fortunately, we learnt quickly finishing a creditable sixth.

The West side which takes to the field against BP will be bigger, younger and a bit more inexperienced than the one which finished last season.

Injuries to Liam Bailey [knee] and Tom Dixon [thumb] mean two key positions have new faces in them, while top try scorer Gareth Foreman has left to try his hand at coaching with Boys Brigade.

The change of rules which allow eight separate replacements during a game is also now a major influence on selection as it becomes effectively an 18 man game.

So Andrew Foreman starts on the bench, but will no doubt figure prominently as his range of skills cover from scrum half to wing. He's not been able to train often, because of work commitments, but the talented Ryan Painter has hardly missed a session and he'll start alongside Stu Waites who has recovered form a painful knock at Middlesbrough last week.

In the pack Andrew Rollins makes his league debut at hooker. He's a different player to the dynamic Bailey, but has done well in pre-sesason and certainly has the physical attributes to play in the front row.

His former Horden colleague Craig Gilmour is the man to fill Tom Dixon's shirt, while Stewart Grazier, Rovers' player of the season last year, also makes his league debut at No 8.

"Disco" scored in both pre-season games and is eager to test himself at National League level. He certainly looks capable of making a big impression.

In the backs the Cheslins are fit again and both start, with David Heckles at full back on his return to the club. He's also looked sharp in pre-season.

Nathan Myers is also likely to get his first taste of national league rugby. The middle Myers is also a back row and figured well at Middlesbrough - including riding a cheap shot which should have earned more than a yellow card for the offender.

It seems only yesterday when we were constantly having to stop him and his younger brother climbing all over the clubhouse roof.  Seeing lads cone  through like this is surely what it is all about.

Birkenhead have lost a few players themselves during the season, and like many other clubs in the league appear to have taken the opportunity to give younger players their chance.

In preparation for this game at Balmy Brinkburn they enjoyed a superb summer tour to the Caribbean - scoring lots of tries and no doubt keeping away from the nightlife . 

Don't forget the sun tan cream.

West: David Heckles, Colin Cheslin, Andrew Cheslin, Luke Watson, Greg Edwards, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Anth Carr, Andrew Rollins, Adam Coates, Andrew Davies, Craig Gilmour, Dan Boatman [c], Jon Boatman, Stewart Grazier. Reps: Andrew Dixon, Nathan Myers, Andrew Foreman.

Birkenhead Park: J Spencer, M Chapman, G Hughes, D Rich, D Morgan, A Handley, S Chidley, G Jones,S Brown, C Campbell, C Saidi, A Finneran, S Mooney, J Ashcroft, A Cupples, Reps: M O'keefe, J Pollard, G Scott.