The encounter at Belmangate is being  touted by the hosts as “Derby Day,”  which is undoubtedly the first time games between the two have been cast in  that bracket. However, as the crow flies,  West are Guisborough’s closest Regional 2 North opposition by virtue of the fact that Redcar, Acklam and Middlesbrough are not currently in the same league.

What is at stake is the opportunity to start the second half of the season having won more games than have been lost. Both West and Guisborough have won 5 - lost 5.  West are in 6^th place  and Guisborough in 9^th by virtue of the fact that the bonus point tally is nine to West and only two try bonus points for the Priorymen.

The hosts go into the game off the back of a solid performance by their pack in going down at Consett last week. That followed two notable  wins at home to Morpeth and away to  Keswick. The latter something West would dearly like to achieve after recent travails.

West also go into the game after getting things back on track with two home wins against Wigton and City - scoring more than 100 points in the process.

The current senior squad have the wanderlust for exotic places with  Chino Rocha back in Argentina for a spell and Jake Linighan stepping down as he is about to leave for his own grand tour of South East Asia.

 Fortunately, joint top try scorer Nick Bennions is back in town and he takes over from Jake in the second row, while Will Hilditch is also back from his long-haul travels. He will look to shake off hs jet-lag with the Stags where Will Corbett also makes a timely return after work commitments.

Max Tennant is unavailable this week so Sam Knight, the other joint top try scorer,  returns to the wing with Matt Siddle at full back .

On the bench there’s a debut in store for 17 year-old Max Tobin who has been winning Man of the Match awards with his performance in the backs for the Stags.