Cumbria’s top game is at Winters Park on Saturday when two joint leaders of Regional 1 North East square up.
Penrith are fourth on scoring differential (+ 38) while Heath lead the way at the top with + 89.
All four top sides have collected a maximum 15 points from their three opening games.
Alnwick lie second (+ 60) and Ilkley are third (+ 45).
Heath were impressive winners at Kendal on opening day, the Halifax club’s first visit to Cumbria.
Unlike Penrith, who had a day off last weekend, Heath were in action as they made Yorkshire Cup progress with a preliminary round win by 52-31 at home to Driffield.
This will be Penrith’s biggest test so far, after making a confident start with a re-shaped line-up and promises to be a cracking contest.
Everyone, across the county, will be hoping that the forecasted Storm Amy doesn’t blow quite so much in Cumbria.
Kendal are some 10 points below the leading quartet in eighth place and they also have a testing game in prospect.
They travel to second-placed Alnwick which means they will have played the top three in their opening four matches – losing to both Heath and Ilkley.
It was a brave effort at home to Ilkley (23-27) while they lost the first game of the season to Heath (18-35).
Alnwick were also involved in Cup action last weekend and got through 46-12 at Novos.
There are no Cumbrian derby clashes in Regional 2 with all four Cumbrian clubs at home.
Aspatria, comfortably beaten at Morpeth a fortnight ago, have Consett as visitors to Bower Park.
In the 12-strong League the Black Reds sit sixth, five points better off than Consett who are next to bottom. Simon Barker will referee this one.
Wigton are the only side below Consett in the table and after a fine effort in defeat at Aspatria on opening day, were disappointed to follow up with a home defeat to Guisborough.
They have home advantage this time over Percy Park who are third in the table with two wins from their three games.
The Greens are very much on a learning curve this season, probably promoted a year ahead of when they would have wanted to go up, but determined to give it their best shot.
Jonny Watson has been given charge of the game at Lowmoor Road.
Level on points with Percy Park, but with a decidedly better scoring differential are Keswick.
Garry Holmes’ side have scored over 100 points in three games and leaders Northern are the only other side to have topped the century mark.
Keswick entertain Morpeth who are two points and three places below them in the table.
The only defeat for the Lakes side so far was a narrow one at Aspatria. Martin Maughan will referee the clash at Davidson Park.
The fourth Cumbrian side Upper Eden have West Hartlepool as visitors to Pennine Park.
It should be tight as they are 8th and 9th in the table – two defeats and a win each, with West Hartlepool one point better off.
Matthew Dunn, an exchange referee from Durham will have charge of this one.
Top game in the Counties One Cumbria League should be at Warwick Road where Carlisle and Kirkby Lonsdale, both newly relegated go head-to-head.
Carlisle are one of only three sides 100% after the first two games.
Craig Price, the former Penrith forward who has retired from playing, will be the man in charge with the whistle.
Whitehaven and St Benedict’s are the two Copeland rivals who have won both games so far.
On Saturday Whitehaven visit Windermere (Craig Hine) and Benny’s are at Hawcoat Park (Alistair Jones).
The other games in the League are: – Ambleside v Keswick 2nds (Mike Firby); Creighton v Workington (Danny Airey); Egremont v Millom (Cieran Trainor); Penrith 2nds v Cockermouth (Stephen Elliott).
On Sunday there’s another exchange referee from Durham, Jenny Carter, officiating at an Under-18’s North Cup pool game between Penrith and Loughborough (3pm ko).
In the National Under-18’s Cup there’s a good derby in prospect between Penrith and Kendal at Winters Park with Alan Mackay officiating (1-30pm ko).
There are also three county games in the Women’s NC 1 North – Carlisle v Peterlee and Horden (Alan Jenkinson); Workington Finches v Ryton (Lee Jones) and Keswick v Harrogate (Ben King).
