Egremont and Kells had stiff National Conference League tests last week away from home, and the fixture list hasn’t been kind to them.
Rangers conceded over 100 points at leaders Siddal, and now face a trip to the reigning champions Hunslet ARLFC.
Likewise Kells, well beaten 50-16 at third-in-the-table Rochdale Mayfield, now have to travel to Humberside to take on second-in-the-table West Hull.
Despite their precarious league positions in the relegation zone both coaches remain determined and resolute as they prepare for their tough assignments.
Egremont are bottom and Rhys Davies said: “All we can do is go to Hunslet and give it our best shot. Last week is forgotten about and we travel down with a bit of experience in the team to help the younger lads through these last three games.”
At Kells, Peter Smith said: “We have a couple away again and a couple at work but there are no excuses we have got what we have got and we will play and fight to the end of the season.
“West Hull are a very good team with some very talented players but we have to throw a little caution to the wind and go at them.”
Thatto Heath Crusaders drew 28-28 with West Hull last week and they are in Cumbria tomorrow against Wath Brow Hornets.
The Brow look as though they are going to finish fifth in the Premier Division table as they are currently four points behind Hunslet in fourth and four points ahead of Lock Lane in sixth.
Ian Rooney’s side had a good 24-6 win at York Acorn last week and will be looking to follow up against their St Helens visitors.
There are three big fixtures for the Cumbrian trio in League Two as it’s looking like one, or possibly two of them could be relegated.
Ellenborough Rangers have had a dip in form of late and need a quick turnaround, with bottom of the table Myton Warriors travelling to Maryport tomorrow.
Coach Paul Gorge said: “I’m sure the lads will be fired up for this one, they realise how important it is to the club to stay in this division.
“We drew 28-28 down there and we are looking forward to the return. We have had players with broken legs, arms and ankles over the last few weeks but we are still putting out a competitive side tomorrow.
“We have two home left and if we can win both of those I think we will be safe.”
Barrow Island have been showing better form of late, including a narrow win at Millom last week, and they will need to continue that up-turn when they host second-in-the-table Wigan St Jude’s.
It’s a different kind of scarp tomorrow for Millom who find themselves third bottom after that home defeat to the Islanders.
They travel to Saddleworth Rangers who are second bottom and two points behind. They lost narrowly 16-14 at Thornhill Trojans, which was similar to Millom’s own defeat to Barrow Island by 18-16.
There’s a Cumbrian derby in Division Three with Hensingham hosting Seaton a meeting of two former Workington Town players in respective coaches Kris Coward and Gus Frazer.
Coward has just returned late on Thursday night from a family holiday and will be getting a de-brief on the squad before he takes control pitch-side.
Frazer said: “We’ve got 15 available this week so we’ll just have to go and see how we got on.
“Obviously with just two on the bench and few middle changes it’s the back end of the game which will be testing for us.
“We just need to get through this and then we have a week off. After that we’ve got a good few back for our final home game.”
Distington will go back to the top of the League if they win at Leigh East as this is their game in hand on main title rivals East Leeds.
“We are going away with a very young side with probably nine lads missing who would be playing. But we have been away with a young side and got the two points and that’s what we are looking at.
“We have lost Scott Rooke and Keith Hunter with bad injuries which has finished their season but the young lads trained well on Thursday and we are going away feeling positive,” said coach Aiden Worthington.
