Two county derby games this afternoon in the National Conference League involve a couple of sides scrapping for their divisional survival.
Egremont go to Wath Brow sitting next to bottom of the Premier Division and although they won the home game earlier in the season injuries have seriously depleted Rhys Davies’ squad.
Then there is Millom, promoted last year, but now in the drop zone of Division Two ahead of their trip to Ellenborough.
They are big games in the context of the position two of the clubs find themselves in and both will be the underdogs at start of play.
Wath Brow, however, are experiencing one of their poorest seasons for a while and are only four points above the drop zone themselves.
There’s hope for Millom, too, as Ellenborough have lost their last two home games after previously running up a long sequence of victories on their own pitch.
Elbra coach Paul Gorge says: “It’s the usual sort of thing – lads at a wedding, lads on holiday and others coming back into the squad. Overall we look okay and the players have prepared really well this week.
“We are expecting a tough game because Millom have some good players and it is a Cumbrian derby.”
Back up in the Premier Division Kells have to keep looking over their shoulders at the teams stacking up behind them.
Every point is crucial and they have a trip to Castleford to ponder this afternoon to face a Lock Lane side who started the season like a side destined for the drop. But they have recovered well, are out of the relegation zone and level on points with Kells.
Peter Smith, the Kells coach, said: “Lock Lane have a new coach and some new players so they have strengthened which means another tough game.
“We will all need to be on the same page if we are to get anything from this one.”
In Division Two, Millom’s home defeat to Wigan St Jude’s, allied to Barrow Island’s rather surprise win at Oldham St Anne’s dropped the Woollybacks into the relegation zone.
Barrow Island are just out of it, level on points with Millom, but with a better points differential.
The Islanders can pull themselves further clear of the danger zone today as they tackle a home fixture with the team immediately above them, Pilkington Recs.
In Division Three, Seaton Rangers have a day off but both Distington and Hensingham are on the road looking to make amends for last week’s defeats.
They play teams in the bottom four, so should travel with confidence – Hensingham to Leigh East and Distington to Milford.
Hensingham coach Kris Coward said: “We are going to get back on the horse, as the old saying goes and get back to how we’ve been playing up to these last two weeks.
“We’ve had a couple of good training sessions and will be looking to restore some pride. We have fitness checks on our captain Jack Kellett (shoulder) and goal-kicker Jay Weatherill (ribs).
“Miller Dalton is back from the European Under-19s Championships but Fletcher Holgate is back and nursing a knock.
“It’s the time of year when lads are missing for one reason or another but we will be okay.”
Distington travel to Milford and have had to pull some second teamers into the squad because of four injuries last week at East Leeds. As a result their A team game with Askam was called off.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “I don’t know what to expect really travelling down there. Some of these teams are a different proposition at home tham they are away.
“But despite making changes we will go looking for the two points as we still have a decent squad to travel with. Gav Martin hasn’t played much this season but he’s an experienced centre who will steady us down and Dan Park is back in after winning Gladiators in Workington last week.”
