We are missing Adam Coates (foot injury), Andrew Rollins (work) and Jack Angus (World Cup ticket) so Ross will be at hooker with Michael Hogan continuing in the front row after his starring role there at Morley last week.

However, we are not in such a bad state as Northern who have cried off their league game at Doncaster Phoenix because so many players have tickets for St James' Park. Five point deduction heading their way unfortunately.

Aaron Myers is available for our next two games, and he'll start at No 8 to allow Sam Miller to provide both front row  cover from the bench.

Skipper Danny Boatman is also back after his own World Cup sojourn allowing Chris Atkins to return to the second row. In the backs Stu Waites lines up in the centre, alongside Peter Youll, with Zac Southern returning to full back and Scott Butcher starting on the wing.

We go into the sixth league game of the season with only one record left to defend – our unbeaten home run.

Last week we said goodbye to our unbeaten run in the league with a narrow 25-21 defeat at Morley but, in truth, it was a game we  should have won given possession and territory.

As a result of that defeat we've slipped to third place in North One East and will be hosting a Driffield side who have moved up to seventh. That is mainly due to scoring a massive 127 points in their last two games and conceding only 24 in their victories over Northern and South Shields Westoe.

The East Yorkshire side have strengthened their squad with the addition of Australian lock Jesse Harrison. He has been brought in by new coach Tosh Askew who has previously coached England Under 19’s and Leicester Tigers.

West’s own coaches will be looking to restore the defensive tackling which was the cornerstone of the early season victories. Our high standards slipped at Morley - a point made in a particularly exhaustive training session on Tuesday.

West: Zac Southern, Scott Butcher, Stu Waites, Peter Youll, Luke Mallinson, Gavin Painter, Ryan Painter, Michael Hogan, Ross Wood, Carl Robinson, Owen Bennett, Chris Atkins, Liam Bailey, Dan Boatman (capt), Aaron Myers.

Changes: Sam Miller, Gred Edwards, Joe Rafferty.

Driffield: Dan Goldsworthy, Alisdair McClarron, Gary Stephenson, Alex Piercy,  Olly Newborn, Colin Lucas, Rhun Jones, Henry Waterhouse, Guy Brumfield,  Guy Dervey,  Jesse Harris, Harrison Dodds, George Mewburn, Rob Mewbur, Henry Forbes

Changes: Felix Nellen, Danny Ord, Olly Cooper