Old Mutual Douglas travel to Heaton Mersey in search of precious away points in North One West on Saturday.

Hosts Burnage are in 12th but only 10 points behind fourth-placed Douglas and with several noteworthy scorelines that includes an October 36-35 loss at leaders Carlisle and home wins against Stockport and Northwich.

Last season Douglas and Burnage shared a win apiece when the latter took away the points from Port-e-Chee in September 2017 before Douglas returned the compliment in January 2018 with a win at Battersea Road.

The ’second season syndrome’, where a team may be found wanting in results as the opposition ’work them out’, has not materialised with Douglas and ambition is encouragingly rife as the numerically smallest squad in the division continue to defy the odds.

Thankfully the Manx RFU’s revision of the Manx Cup looks to have bolstered the competitive fixture list.

Those at Mooragh Park for the first round Ramsey v Celts 15-15 thriller saw candidates for Douglas first team promotion having another home-grown platform from which to progress.

Up front Todd McDowell, Carl Markl-Ferns and Harry Raven have locked down front-row places after recent performances and with Max Singer back at lock alongside Liam Kirkpatrick there are few front fives to match them.

Mike Dunnett retains a deserved back-row berth but it will have been a close selection call with Craig McGee waiting in the wings.

Sam Games continues a remarkable run of form at flanker where he consistently leads the tackle count, and skipper Niall Killey is nearly back to his best.

Dom Winrow is a potent replacement on the bench and it was evident last week that he brings a dynamic uplift.

Changes to the backline have Bryn Snellgrove at scrum-half in the absence of Will Cain and Shaun Wyllie, Carl Murray stepping in at number 10, and Conor Stephens resuming what many believe is his best position at centre alongside Aidan O’Shea.

With the return of Adam Boyd on the wing, while the potential of the back-three, with Sam Mete and Guy Wood on the counter, is an exciting prospect.

Douglas squad: Todd McDowell, Carl Markl-Ferns, Harry Raven, Max Singer, Liam Kirkpatrick, Mike Dunnett, Sam Games, Niall Killey, Bryn Snellgrove, Carl Murray, Sam Mete, Aidan O’Shea, Conor Stephens, Adam Boyd, Guy Wood, Robert Todd, Dom Winrow, Craig Mcgee.

FIXTURES: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

North One West

Burnage v Douglas @ Burnage

Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three

Old Bedians v Ramsey

@ Old Bedians ko 1.30pm

Vagabonds v Oxton Parkonians

@ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm

Women’s NC North West One

Leigh v Vagabonds @ Leigh

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

Ramsey B v PDMS Southern Nomads

@ Mooragh Park

Vagabonds B v Castletown

@Ballafletcher

l Full round-up of Saturday’s rugby in next week’s Isle of Man Examiner - on sale Tuesday morning.