Both West and Morpeth are in the top four with West on 55 points, Morpeth are third - seven points ahead with leaders Northern on 69 points and Middlesbrough on 65. With seven games left all of the top four sides still have to play each other and, while Northern and Boro are favourites for the promotion place, it’s by no means cut and dried.

Both West and Morpeth are at home for five of those last seven games which adds some added spice to this week's game when West have the opportunity to narrow the gap to two or three points.

The game between the sides at Mitford Road was one where the home side – frustratingly difficult to beat on their own patch – won 29-19 and in doing so proved to be one of only two sides to deny West any points.

West go into the game off the back of a hard-fought victory at Upper Eden,  where an unfamiliar looking pack provided plenty of ball for the speedy backs to cut through the home defence.

Peter Youll stepped up to No.8 in the absence of five forwards. He’s been away supervising a school skiing trip this week and won’t be back in time. However,   rested and refreshed Chris Atkins is back at  No.8.

Charlie Kay and Connor McLurg partnered Youll in the back row last week  and they keep their places in the starting line-up as does loosehead Jack Angus,  while Will Corbett does return to partner Jake Linighan in the engine room.

The coaches also keep faith with the backs who are unchanged.

The Stags have the chance to test themselves against opposition who also play in Candy Division One, as well as the Yorkshire and North East league, and will have new signing Kieran Scollay in the centre. The former Billingham player has returned from Bath University where he played both in the back row and centre as well as for University 7's teams.

England v Ireland on the big screen (and all of the others) kicking off at 4.45.