The firsts start the league campaign off the back of a more than decent pre-season.

In away trips to Rochdale and Middlesbrough we scored a total of 14 tries - including a massive 68-12 win in Lancashire against a side of equal league standing. That was followed by a 29-10 win at ‘Boro who narrowly failed to achieve promotion into N1E last season.

Durham City did manage that feat - after losing only one league game last time around. They visited Brinkburn last weekend in the Durham Senior Cup, and faced a much changed West side which included a number of Colts’ players. But it was West who triumphed 20-19.

It should  bode well for the visit of YM, and at the very least it has posed one or two selection heaqdaches thanks to the excellent shows in the warm-up games.

Vice captain Ryan Painter (pictured) will return, after missing the cup game, but brother Gavin has work commitments with Zac Southern continuing at fly half.

We will also have the benefit of three players returning to the club. Lee Maddison has been outstanding in all three games and will hunker down alongside skipper Dan Boatman and Sam Miller who missed last week.

Tim Blades is also back from his studies at Loughborough, where he managed an awful lot of rugby, and he will be in the front row alongside Coates and Rollins.  Paul Moss is also back and will be on the bench alongside Ross Wood and Alex Barker.

Luke Mallinson drops  to full back with Will Hilditch on the wing where he looked sharp at Rochdale.

West: Luke Mallinson, Eldon Myers, Liam Checksfield, Peter Youll, Will Hilditch, Ryan Painter, Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Tim Blades, John Bunter, Jay Corbett,  Lee Maddison, Sam Miller, Dan Boatman (capt), Sam Miller:

Changes: Ross Wood, Alex Barker, Paul Moss.