When West hosted the Cumbrians back in December it was Storm Darragh which dominated as both sides were happy to call it a day after 68 minutes with West taking the points with a 24-10 win.

This time it’s a perfect storm of another kind and one which has kept the coaches exercised all week. There are more than 20 players unavailable for various reasons including skiing trips and work commitments.

Hence there ‘are players making the move up to the First team for the trip across the Pennines including debutant winger Curtis Ross who starts with Jacob Wood returning on the other. Back row Aaron Muir is also set to make his first team debut from the bench.

Bem Reed is also fit again and will be at full-back in place of the unavailable Sam Knight . Skipper Ryan Painter is suspended following his cards against City,  so Matt Siddle is back at fly-half alongside Matt Baggs

Lewis Scott, Aidan Jackson-Smith and top try scorer Max Tennant  are on their annual ski-ing trip. Isaac Robinson and Jake Linighan also unavailable but on the lus side Jay Corbett is fit again and will be in a powerful back row alongside Peter Youll and Chris Atkins. In the second row  second team skipper Jonny Wray moves up to partner Charlie Kay  and in the friont row there’s also a welcome return to action for Adam Hutchinson with Andrew Rollins starting at hooker.

They will take on a Carlisle team which has won only once in the last seven games and is in a dogfight to avoid the second relegation place -  only two points currently separating four teams

The coaches had hoped to start blooding some of the Academy players this week. However, injuries and other issues means that the honour goes to forward Sam Henderson who will be on the Stags' bench as the top two meet at Brinkburn.

The side will see Michael Hogan starting in the front row after overcoming knee surgery and starring for the Bucks with Ben Lloyd alos using his size and experience in the second row alongside Ollie Webster.