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Fylde welcome old friends and rivals Kendal to the Woodlands for a National Three North league game (ko 15.00). It's a particularly important game for both clubs as Fylde attempt to get their campaign back on track after their narrow defeat at Macclesfield last Saturday and Kendal continue their impressive form following their postponed match in dreadful Lake District weather that day. A large crowd is expected to watch the best two supported clubs in the division in what is likely to be a fierce confrontation.

Fylde have a good recent record against the Cumbrians winning four and drawing two of their last six matches. The most recent contest was at Mint Bridge in March 2006, the season that saw Kendal relegated from the national leagues. They had two seasons in North One before having an outstanding 2007/8 campaign to finish as champions and gain promotion back to N3N. They have had a promising return so far by winning three out of five matches, with a superb 40-12 win at Leicester Lions in their last league outing three weeks ago. They have been frustrated by the postponement of two matches at their drenched Mint Bridge HQ, albeit that it's still only October. With the long winter ahead, they face the prospect of serious fixture congestion by March 2009.

The Mint Bridge Ground, home of Kendal since 1927, has been in the news in another context of late. The Club is considering its sale to a developer and moving to a new base on Oxenholme Road in the town. Members are being asked to support this proposal at a special general meeting on Tuesday, 28th October.

Kendal's rejuvenation has been assisted by a major sponsorship from a former player Jon Collins and now a director of Barwick Wines, an Australian wine producer. This finance assisted major team strengthening last season and to the recruitment of a number of New Zealand and South African players. The rules for the National Leagues are much tighter on the use of overseas players so the club has only one Kiwi in their squad so far this season.

Another overseas player, now with an English passport, skippers the Cumbrians. The highly experienced South African born centre Ian Voortman started his English rugby career with Kendal back in 1997, moved in 2003 to be a mainstay of the Sedgley Park backline in National One and rejoined his old club at the beginning of their promotion campaign last season. He is a very influential, tough competitor and a natural leader.

Kendal's success has been built on a predictably gritty, hard pack of forwards, most of them with the Club for many years. A front row of Billy Coxon, Duncan Green and Richard Harryman yield to few opponents and they are supported by able lock Gareth Gore and a backrow of Mark & Craig Wilson (formerly with Halifax & Plymouth) and Gary Holmes. One of the interesting sub-plots for Saturday sees flanker Holmes come up against his brother, Fylde's hooker Alan.

Another key contest sees former Fylde flying winger Lewis Boyd coming up against tyro England Academy newcomer Jordan Davies. Boyd, who has already notched five tries this season, would have expected to face record try scorer Nick Royle but the on loan winger was injured on his first full competitive debut for Sale Sharks last Friday. It was initially feared that he had broken a fibula but it seems as though it's a case of bad bruising and possible ligament damage which will keep him out of action for a few weeks. Boyd, a Newcastle Falcons Development squad player last season, was brought to the Woodlands by previous coach Stuart Connell at the beginning of 2007/8 but couldn't break into the 1sts on a regular basis as wingers Royle and England Counties colleague Oliver Brennand were fit throughout the campaign.

But the Kendal backline will pose other threats through fly-half Dan Stephens, Voortman, Kiwi newcomer Zane Butler, who hails from Bay of Plenty and plays either centre or on the wing, and former Loughborough Students & Bedford centre Matt Gracie. Goal kicking is the responsibilty of Stephens who has 37 points from 5 matches and a success rate of 52% so far this season compared with Fylde kicker Steve Nutt who has 84 points at 67% from seven games.

Kendal's line-up is:

15 Chris Park; 14 Zane Butler, 13 Matt Gracie, 12 Ian Voortman(c), 11 Lewis Boyd; 10 Dan Stephens, 9 James Gough; 1 Billy Coxon, 2 Duncan Green, 3 Richard Harryman, 4 Liam Hayton, 5 Gareth Gore, 6 Rob Quarry, 7 Garry Holmes, 8 Craig Wilson.

Reps.: 16 Allen Martindale, 17 Ian Ross, 18 Joel Howse, 19 Luke Ladell, 20 Dan Murray.

Fylde miss four recently injured players - centres Tom Albinson & Neil Hunter (both with continuing ankle problems), winger Royle (ankle ligaments) and flanker Dave Wilks (broken bone in hand). Additionally, fullback Mike Waywell isn't fit to start yet but is named amongst the replacements. Director of Rugby Mark Nelson has gone with the same centre partnership as at Macclesfield, David Wiseman and the returning Richard Kenyon who plays his first home game of the season, with England Academy prospect Jordan Davies making his home debut on the wing in place of Royle.

Dan Palmer is a ready made substitute for Dave Wilks at openside flanker whilst Mark Stephenson provides cover amongst the replacements.

15 Martin Wallwork; 14 Jordan Davies, 13 Richard Kenyon, 12 David Wiseman, 11 Oliver Brennand; 10 Steve Nutt, 9 Craig Aikman; 1 Sam Simpson, 2 Chris Tyms, 3 Darren Clark, 4 Nick King, 5 Roger Banks(c), 6 Dan Bowman, 7 Dan Palmer, 8 Sam Beaumont.

Reps.: 16 Andrew Irving, 17 Alan Holmes, 18 Mark Stephenson, 19 Grant Ferguson, 20 Mike Waywell.

Kendal's Director of Rugby Chris Hayton previews the game in the local South Lakes newspaper. His equivalent at Fylde, Mark Nelson, told the Blackpool Gazette his thoughts about the match.

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The Club is delighted to welcome new match sponsor Handelsbanken to be the latest of our many business partners. We hope that the Bank's staff and guests have a great afternoon out at the Woodlands and that this is the beginning of a long relationship.

Handelsbanken Preston was officially opened by Sir Tom Finney 12 months ago. It is a Swedish bank established in 1871 which enjoys a high credit rating of AA1 based upon its financial strength and which, only last week produced a further strong set of results. Paul Crook, known to many Fylde supporters as Secretary of its very own Mini-Junior section for eight years, established the branch in Preston which covers Lancashire and describes the operation as

"Banking 30 years ago when you had honest discussions with customers, established a rapport, earned each others trust and backed the people". He went on to say, "I am delighted to be sponsoring today's match and look forward to meeting many friends who made my time at Fylde so enjoyable". The bank caters for all types of Corporate and Commercial businesses as well as high net worth individuals and more details can be found on its website www.handelsbanken.co.uk/preston