Fylde, in 2nd place in National Three (North), continue their extended pursuit of leaders Nuneaton when they visit Huddersfield for the first time ever in a league contest (ko 15.00). Although overwhelming favourites for the championship title, Nun's defeat at Kendal has opened a chink of light for the Lancastrians and they will continue their efforts to pick up maximum points. Nuns have a tricky game at neighbours Leicester Lions on Saturday.

Huddersfield have an astonishingly long 139 year history, making them one of the oldest clubs in the world. Fylde will anticipate an extremely tough contest as the home side, currently in 12th place, will aim to put the slim statistical chance of relegation behind them.

Promoted from North One following a play-off win against Luctonians back in April at their neat Lockwood Park ground, the visitors initially did well in their first ever season in the national leagues. But they've struggled since Christmas and haven't won in their last eight matches. But they haven't been hammered in any match so far, losing a number by a relatively small number of points.

Interestingly, the Club claims to have founded mini-rugby in England in 1969. The Club bought Lockwood Park in 1997 where they have four rugby pitches plus an all-weather surface with parking for 300 cars. Altogether, they field four senior teams plus Academy, Junior and Mini sections and they work closely with Huddersfield University RUFC and Leeds Carnegie.

Their successful promotion campaign last season was led by highly experienced Director of Rugby, coach & skipper Mark Sowerby, who joined the club when Wakefield folded. He's assisted by another former Wakefield RU & RL favourite, backs coach Neil Summers and Yorkshire, Otley, Doncaster & Wakefield backrower Glen Wilson who has had to retire at 31 because of a persistent back problem. Sowerby, too, had decided to call it a day on a distinguished playing career although he still makes the occasional appearance as a replacement.

They have relied pretty much on the squad of players that won the club promotion last season.

Members of a hard working pack include a tough front row of props Anthony Springwell & Finlay McPhail, able lock George Hinchliffe, no 8 Nick Sharpe and free scoring flanker Mark Whitehead. Perhaps their most well known player is former Bradford & Rotherham flanker Barry Jacobsz. The 29 year old former South African 7s international was born in Bloemfontein and has played at Super 14s level with the Cheetahs before moving to the UK. He has impressed at N1 level and has been an asset to the Field squad since joining in late November.

Amongst their backs, they have an experienced half-back pairing in scrum-half Damian Clayton and goal kicking fly-half Chris Johnson who has had a startling entry to national league rugby. His accomplished play and goal kicking earned him a call up to the England Counties squad in the early part of 2009. He is the Club's top scorer with 211 points. Johnson's brother, Matt, has returned this season following a period away from the game and has joined him in the backline. Another pair of brothers, Lee & Ben Paxman, have also featured in the line-up.

Like Fylde, Field come into the game encouraged by a county cup victory - over Cleckheaton in the Yorkshire Cup quarter-final last weekend. In contrast, coach Mark Sowerby described his side in the opening game of the season, an 18-35 defeat at the Woodlands, as ‘a bit like rabbits caught in the headlights,’ but they have since improved, playing reasonably well in their last N3N run-out when they scored 22 points against leaders Nuneaton.

Sowerby sends out an almost full-strength side tomorrow:

Paxman (B), Johnson (M), Paxman (L), Clarke, Shaw; Johnson, Rothery; Slater, Davies, Stringwell, Rhodes, Hinchliff, Jacobsz, Whitehead, Sharpe. Subs: Gough, Battye, Sharrock, Mortimore, Ramsden.

Fylde shuffle a few of the 22 players who appeared in the Lancashire Cup Final on Monday. Skipper & scrum-half Craig Aikman, centre Tom Albinson and flanker Dan Palmer all move up from the replacements bench to the starting XV. 

Action from the opening day of the season. Click here for more photos.