Seaton will be looking for their first win of the season tomorrow in National Conference Division Three.
But so too will opponents Featherstone Lions who are bottom by virtue of the fact that have been docked six points from fixture failures last season when they were relegated from Division Two.
Gus Frazer, the Seaton coach, is optimistic but knows full well that the Lions are in the same situation as they are themselves.
“It won’t be an easy game for us as they have been running teams close. I think they are a bit like ourselves and just can’t put 80 minutes together.
“We have plenty available for this one with two good lads who have been playing rugby union coming into the side – Kieran Mewse (Keswick) at full-back and Ben Postlethwaite (Wigton) on the wing.
“Liam Williamson, our hooker, is back with no work commitments and former Town forward Caine Barnes is available, back from holiday.
“We also had some good news that Conor McCrickard is available again after six weeks out through injury.”
League leaders Distington don’t have a fixture this week and Hensingham will be bidding to get back into second place when they travel to third-bottom Milford.
Up in the top flight Egremont Rangers are the only one of the three West Cumbrians with a home fixture.
They host York Acorn who have slipped down the table after an eye-catching start.
Egremont coach Rhys Davies said: “I’m hoping that we can get back to winning ways but that all depends on if we do the basics right.
“A good, honest performance from the lads should see us right.
“I’ve had to make a few changes due to holidays but the squad is more than capable of getting the win.”
Kells and Wath Brow face contrasting trip away – with opposition at the top and bottom of the Premier Division.
It’s Kells who have the tough one at Siddal who lead the table by a fraction over West Hull. Siddal have a plus points differential of 180 against the Humbersiders tally of 179 – and both have 16 points from ten games.
Kells are currently the best placed Cumbrian side in the Premier Division on 10 points, but just ahead of Wath Brow on points differential – plus 13 to minus 10.
Peter Smith, the Kells coach said: “It will be a tough ask because they have been playing well so it’s up to us to stop them doing it.
“In some ways, though, it’s a free shot for us as nobody will think we can do anything down there.”
It will be a long time since Wath Brow were in minus mode on points at this stage of the season. Tomorrow’s clash at Lock Lane will take them to exactly half-way.
However Ian Rooney’s men will see this as an opportunity to improve their position of sixth in the table and a good chance to put their points differential into the black.
Lock Lane have only won once in nine League games and predictably with such a record their points tally is the worst – minus 166.
Complacency might be Wath Brow’s main problem but Rooney will certainly have their mind-set right.
In Division Two the big game is at Ellenborough where the Rangers host the League leaders Wigan St Jude’s.
Elbra coach Paul Gorge said: “It’s going to be a tough one for us. They are a very good side and I’ve just been watching a couple of videos of them.
“They are a well drilled side who don’t make many mistakes.
“We have a few players away and others with injuries but I do think we still have a strong squad and will be doing what we can to maintain our unbeaten home record, of which we are very proud.”
Millom also have a big home fixture against Oldham St. Anne’s, another of the leading sides who are currently lying third.
Jackson Evans, Lee Postlethwaite, Hanley Dawson, Will Singleton and Ethan Kelly are big name returnees for the Woollybacks but they will be without Bobby Wright (concussion) Dom O’Brien (holiday) and Naki Saumaki who has returned to New Zealand.
There’s an important away test for Barrow Island as they visit Pilkington Recs, one of only three teams below them in the table.
The Islanders give a debut to recent signing Tyler Brady while Dan Wright, Brandon Corrie and Dec Baines are all back in the squad.
Missing, though, because of work commitments are Jordan Staffieri, Aide Wright and Perry Singleton.
