Rotherham Titans face one of the stiffest tests of the season this weekend, when they travel to Fylde in round 18 of National 2 North; kick-off at The Woodlands on Saturday is 2:30pm.
Fylde is traditionally one of the toughest grounds to visit as Rotherham knows only too well having been beaten on their previous two excursions to the seaside venue.
Indeed you have to go back 25 years to the last time Titans beat Fylde in the North West. That came in the old Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 in February 1999, where that day Rotherham ran out 34-5 winners with tries from Mike Schmid, Dave Scully, Ben Wade and Dean Lax.
Added to that Fylde are on a good run of form having won 6 of their last 7 games and currently sit in fourth spot in the table; and so Rotherham will be acutely aware of the test that awaits them on Saturday.
Nevertheless Rotherham are enjoying a good season themselves and are also in fine form having won their previous 5 games, the last one being a very impressive 42-7 romp over Tynedale.
Indeed Titans have suffered just one loss all season, that being a narrow reversal to league leaders Leeds.
All of which whets the appetite for what should be a close and exciting game of rugby between two good sides.
Going into the game Titans have made three changes to the starting XV that beat Tynedale, all of which come in the forwards.
In the front row Jack Bergmanas comes in at hooker for Luke Cole and Reece Ward comes in at tight head prop for Gareth Denman, whilst in the back row Marcus Payne comes in for Rupert Kay.
Titans: 15 Jack Townend, 14 Tomasi Tanumi, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Harry Dunne, 11 Jack Taylor, 10 Will Milner, 9 Will Metcalfe, 1 Charlie Capps, 2 Jack Bergmanas, 3 Reece Ward, 4 John Okafor, 5 Matt Smith, 6 Marcus Payne, 7 Harry Newborn, 8 Zak Poole (Capt.).
Replacements: 16 Luke Cole, 17 Loma Kivalu, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Callum Bustin, 20 JB Bruzulier.
