Douglas travel to the Memorial Ground at Blundellsands to take on Waterloo in North One West this Saturday and both sides will be keen to make up ground after losses last week.

Fourth-placed Waterloo lost out at leaders Stockport 34-21, while Douglas earned a bonus point against fifth-placed Birkenhead Park at Port-e-Chee.

A season containing no relegation or promotion is giving teams an opportunity to bring young talent on and the benefits are showing through.

Wingers Kyle Martin and Craig Martin have scorching pace and watching their development is a joy.

Similarly Charlie Henthorn now has an edge to his game and, as his try last week showed, he troubles defences from wing or full-back.

A clean bill of health for the Douglas squad will help selection, having already lost Seth Waterworth to an injury that may keep him out for the remainder of the season.

The front five has been bolstered by Glyn Hooson-Owen’s contribution and in the back-row Blake Snell, Craig McGee and Wilf Kermode were all prominent last week.

With Simon Hoddinott in top form again and the talented Harry Raven effectively covering several positions, there’s the right type of quandary for the selectors to ponder.

TONY WILSON-SPRATT