With six games to go the finishing line is in sight for the Firsts as they remain unbeaten at the top of Counties 1 Durham and Northumberland. Second place Sunderland could feasibly overhaul the 20 point lead as they have a game in hand - a big home win could help them reduce the West lead to ten points providing they also win the rearranged game at struggling Darlington.  League table.

However, the maximum points which Sunderland could achieve is 90, which means that West need only 16 points from their remaining six games to reach 91 points and clinch the title. It's a fact acknowledged by the Wearsiders on their social media pages,  as is their desire to be the first club to beat West in any game this season - the game at Brinkburn saw the narrowest of victories for West (7-6). Equally, the determination in the West camp is to remain undefeated.  

It's a reverse situation in Candy 2 South where Sunderland Shipwrights are top and West Stags third, with the leaders having played three more games than the Stags. The game at Brinkburn ended in a draw.

Both West sides will be strengthened by the return of many of the  dozen players who missed last week's games against Hartlepool for a variety of reasons. Skipper Ryan Painter is back for the Firsts together with Sam Heron and Davy Heckles in the backs.

Up front Jake Linighan is free of work commitments and will be in the back row, while Tim Blades returns in the front row where Louis Adamson steps up at loosehead for his debut.

Alex Barker and Adam Coates are also back in contention. They will be on the bench alongside Lewis Scott who scored last week's important last try. 

Scott Butcher makes a welcome return to action for the Stags, where he'll wear the No 8. shirt, with Stu Waites pulling the strings from fly-half. Once again a great mix of experience and youth.