Frankly Iain Dixon deserves better in his first season as a coach. He remains upbeat and  full of energy and, together with Kevan Oliphant and Graham Southern, will turn things round.

The latter has been very much involved in promoting the arrival of younger players in the first team squad which has been the major plus point of the season, so far.

Nathan Myers, a chip off the old block if there ever was one, is now a regular and starts at Percy Park in the second row alongside Michael Hogan who must be in line for Most Improved Player of the Season.

Sam Miller is too young to play in his favoured front row but has slotted straight into the back row and marked his Boxing Day debut with a well deserved try.

Now Jay Corbett is the latest Stag to get his chance. The mercurial back row had lots to say at the recent players meeting which led to the coaches realising he wasn't actually registered as a senior player. He is now, and will be on the bench at Percy Park alongside Alex Barker and Paul Moss.

The only change in the backs from Boxing Day is on the wing where Tom Armstrong comes in for the unavailable Scott Butcher. There are changes in the front row with both Adam Coates and Anth Carr also unavailable - Ian Pinchen continues with Ross Wood coming in at tighthead.

It will be one of the youngest packs the club has fielded but one full of proimise.

They'll be facing an experienced Percy Park who have improved under player coach Michael Stephenson. The former Falcons and Bath full back has helped the North Shields side to fourth place in the league,which is probably far higher than they dared hope for at the beginning of the season.

West: Colin Cheslin, Peter Youll, Andrew Foreman, Greg Edwards, Tom Armstrong, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Dixon, Ross Wood, Nathan Myers, Michael Hogan, Sam Miller, Dan Boatman [capt], Jon Boatman. Reps: Paul Moss, Alex Barker, Jay Corbett.