After a slow scoring start to the season the skipper has been on top form and leading from the front, as ever. He limped off against Barnard Castle a fortnight ago with an ankle injury, and some thought he would be rested ahead of the game at City next week - Roo has his own ideas.

Eighteen try Hilditch had been injured since early February and made a successful return for the second team last week.

We go into this week’s game in second place – the one which earns an end of season play-off against the runners-up in Yorkshire One – but know that our ultimate fate is in our own hands. We are just one point behind leaders Durham City who we face at Hollow Drift next week in what looks like a winner takes all showdown.

Neither side can afford a slip-up in their three other games with bonus points equally important.

Painter’s brother Gavin and Andy Turner are now the only players on the injured list with the West coaches having to make some tough selection decisions in every department - specially in the back row.  Final selection is taking some time to resolve and communicate to the lads.

West from: Luke Mallinson, Zac Southern, Will Hilditch, Davy Heckles, Peter Youll, Max Tennant, Callum Johnston, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Danny Cookland, Jake Linighan, John Bunter, Michael Hogan, Alex Barker, Adam Brown, Scott Butcher, Isaac Robinson, Jay Corbett.

Acklam arrive in third bottom spot but a whopping 28 points clear of the relegation places, so they can relax and enjoy their final games.

Back in November we started off well at a hospitable Talbot Park then completely lost our way in the  middle of the game. That lead to a typically forthright half time team talk in front of the clubhouse from Graeme Southern. It did the trick and we eventually ran out ran out 33-10 winners.

Acklam: Bradley Gater, Jacob Robinson, Paul Roberts, Marcus Sudron, Andrew Dunn, Daniel Ashton, Nathan Faint, Jordan Rea, Robert Marks, Ben Pearson (capt), Tim Savage, Danny Moss, Cameron Bottomley, Theo Labonete, Patrick O'Brien.

Changes: Paul Owens (fr), John Hall, Andrew Dalton.