Fylde travel to local friends and rivals Preston Grasshoppers for the latest in a very long run of fixtures between the two clubs at Lightfoot Green on Saturday (ko 15.00). Another large seasonal crowd is expected to turn out for this extra special derby game.

Fylde have league position primacy this season but that will count for nothing against a 'Hoppers squad who will be as keen as ever to rattle the Woodlands' club's cage. Fylde sit in third position in National Three (North) and are desperate to put further pressure on leading clubs Caldy & Nuneaton. 'Hoppers are in 8th place and come off the back of an impressive cup win over the ambitious Hull RUFC side with half their number made up seemingly of South Sea Islanders.

In fact, Fylde's away record this season - p5, w2, l3 - is unimpressive and they will have to improve their form away from the Woodlands considerably if they are to beat 'Hoppers who, apart from an off day in mid-September against Harrogate, have performed strongly at Lightfoot Green achieving a run of four successive wins. It has been Preston's away form which has disappointed - six successive defeats - and has undermined their normal position in the top half of the table.

If 'Hoppers 33 tries to date are put in the shade by the free running Fylde side that has so far run in 54 tries then the weather and pitch conditions at Lightfoot Green may not be conducive to the kind of attacking rugby that the visitors have displayed so regularly at the Woodlands this season.

In the latest sequence of league games between the two clubs, apart from last season, home advantage has proved crucial as it may do again on Saturday. Last season saw Fylde take the bragging rights with a double win, 25-18 at the Woodlands and 17-8 in the floodlight failure, 64 minute curiosity of a game just before Christmas.

'Hoppers have the great advantage of a settled squad with lots of continuity in recent seasons. Head Coach Alex Keay has built and blended a team from young players, some of whom have come up through their impressive youth development ranks, others who have joined from clubs in and around the area. This group is supplemented by a cadre of very able senior players who have lots of league and representative experience. 

On Saturday against Hull it was their pack which looked particularly formidable. The battle between the 'Hoppers front row of John Peterson, Ritchie Sands and Richard Carlton and Fylde's group including former 'Hopper Darren Clark, Sam Simpson, Alan Holmes, Chris Tyms, Andrew Irving and newcomer Ross Davies, will be worth the admission money on its own.

Preston will no doubt call on experienced lock Wayne Steele, the principal lineout ball winner to help to anchor their scrum. It was their backrow of Myerscough College & Sale Sharks youngster Lee Imiolek, Luke Cunningham and Fylde M-J product Andrew Dockray who were so impressive against Hull. Former Fylde junior and 1st team player Danny Waller had been doing well at no 8 until a nasty injury put him out of action a few weeks ago. Returning from injury, however, is 'Hoppers former skipper and highly influential no 8 Richard Morton. 'Hoppers have missed Morton as much as knarled flanker Glynn Dewhurst who has also missed most of the season with injury.

Behind the scrum, the shrewd, livewire Lancashire scrum-half Darren Wilson will have a tremendous battle with fellow Lancashire & England Counties Fylde player, Craig Aikman. This will be Aikman's first experience of a Fylde v Hoppers derby, as it will be for a number of his team mates including playmaking half-back partner Steve Nutt.

In the pivot position of fly-half, 'Hoppers have tries a few players so far this season. Former Blackpool Panthers RL stalwart Martin Gambles started off there at the beginning of the season but was badly injured some matches in. Young Marcus Jackson has made a number of appearances but Nick Smith played on Saturday and did well.

Former Cambridge, Rugby & Llandovery centre Stefan Thomas has been an ever present in the backline. Quick wingers Will Hughes and Sean Hall are dangerous runners and are backed up by highly experienced gargantuan Russell Flynn who has been impressing recently at fullback instead of in his normal left-wing berth. But they continue to miss the inspirational back play of Olli Vinney who has done such damage to Fylde and other N3N defences in recent seasons.

'Hoppers adjust the side that started against Hull in the EDF Trophy last Saturday. Marcus Jackson returns after injury to the full back spot allowing Russell Flynn to take up his usual position on the left wing. Former Fylde Wanderers scrum-half Tom Ball is named amongst the replacements.

15 Marcus Jackson 14 Sean Hall 13 Phil Whyte 12 Steffan Thomas 11 Russell Flynn 10 Nick Smith 9 Darren Wilson(c) 1 John Peterson 2 Richie Sands 3 Richard Carleton 4 Wayne Steel 5 Mark Rigbye 6 Lee Imiolek 7 Luke Cunningham 8 Andrew Dockray.

Replacements: 16 Richard Morton 17 Dougie Monaghan 18 Mark Hanson 19 Ollie Moore 20 Tom Ball.  

Fylde have named a squad of 21 for the game including try scoring winger Nick Royle who has been out of action with an ankle injury picked up playing for Sale Sharks against Bath on 24th October. Former 'Hoppers prop Darren Clark returns to the squad following suspension.

Backs from: Mike Waywell, Nick Royle, Jordan Davies, Tom Albinson, Oliver Brennand, Steve Nutt, Craig Aikman, Martin Wallwork, David Wiseman.

Forwards from: Ross Davies, Alan Holmes, Sam Simpson, Andrew Irving, Mark Darlington, Darren Clark, Oliver Atkinson, Roger Banks(c), Dan Bowman, Dan Palmer, Dave Wilks & Sam Beaumont.

A final selection will be made Saturday morning.