Two teams are guaranteed to come up from Counties 2 Durham and Northumberland so, unless the RFU moves clubs around higher up the leagues, one of West's last two opponents will drop down with Horden. 

Novos have two games to play and are six points clear of Darlington who have three to play. A win against West this week would do the Tynesiders a power of good - specially following their 50 point hammering at Rovers last week.

There's no date, as yet, for the rearranged game at Darlington's Blackwell Meadows after last week's game was the only one in the league to be called off.

The incentive for West is to keep the unbeaten run going into the Papa Johns Trophy. The first round of the new competition is now due to be played on April 1st with the draw being made this coming Monday, once more league positions have been decided. West will be in the Level 7 Championship group and in the first round will be drawn against one of the top four sides in the other northern Counties 1 leagues. It's a knockout competition with a Twickenham final on Sunday May 7th.

The game at Novos will kick off at 2.00 to allow everyone to "enjoy" England's final game in the Six Nations. The season was due to have ended last week after the RFU's insistence that leagues be reduced to 12 teams, but the weather has intervened to give us a more normal season.

However, some players had already organised other things, including ski-ing and going to Six Nations games, so there's a few changes including in the backs where Messrs Heckles and Tennant M. are away.

Will Hilditch will move inside with Lewis Scott returning on one wing and Jordan Painter on the other.

In the pack Jake Linighan is back after his work commitments and will be in his usual second row alongside Ollie Webster. Will Corbett and Aidan Jackson-Smith are unavailable so Adam Hutchinson, the Points West Unsung Hero of the season, will be at hooker and packing down between Tim Blades and Liam Pennick.

We are back to a more familiar back row with Jay Corbett fit again - he'll be partnered by Chrissy Atkins and Isaac Robinson.

Charlie Kay and Jonny Wray missed out on starts last week and both will be on the bench alongside Jack Angus, who has recovered from a shoulder injury.

The Stags are also in action after their 17-14 top of the table victory over BBOB in the CaNDY league last week. They're off to Houghton-le-Spring for a friendly with Alex Barker returning from injury.