The biggest game in Cumbria on Saturday will be at Pennine Park in Regional 2 North between two county sides fighting against relegation.
Results two weeks ago saw both Keswick and Upper Eden fight their way out of the drop zone, but only just, so their meeting this week-end has major connotations.
The two Cumbrian sides are both on 35 points and below them they have Stockton (34), Morpeth (32) and the already relegated Cockermouth (0).
West Hartlepool are also on the mix with 38 points and it all hinges on the last month of the season when there is still time for twists and turns of fortune.
Upper Eden and Keswick will be looking to their own futures and each will be going for the win, whereas the neutral Cumbrian might be hoping for a high-scoring draw to see them both benefit to a degree.
Martin Denvir has the job of controlling the contest at Pennine Park.
The two clubs will also hope that Aspatria can do them a favour as the Black Reds travel to West Hartlepool where an away win with nothing for the hosts would be a useful outcome for Cumbrian rugby.
Cockermouth are due at Morpeth where a first win of the season for the Wasps would be equally celebrated after the game at Pennine Park.
Both of our county sides face away trips in Regional One North West, with Kendal bound for a top-half finish and Penrith needing, perhaps one more win to make absolutely certain of staying up.
Kendal are at Wirral, who are fourth in the table, 14 points better off than the Mint Bridge side who are sixth.
Penrith are eighth in the table and visit Anselmians, who are only one place lower but five points adrift. However two weeks ago they had a good 28-5 win at Kendal and will pose a threat on their own ground.
Counties 1 Cumbria champions Carlisle are in particularly good heart after clinching the title and beating Aspatria last week in the County Cup semi-final.
By a fixture quirk they host Aspatria again on Saturday but this time it’s the second team from Bower Park and Jonny Watson will be in the middle.
The best match, however, promises to be at the Playground where the local town derby sees Whitehaven hosting St Benedict’s (Simon Barker).
The other games are: Windermere v Hawcoat Park (Craig Hine); Millom v Egremont (Alistair Jones); Penrith 2nds v Creighton (George Tressider).
