The Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield gets underway for 2019 with its own version of ’El Clasico’ this Saturday.

The game in question sees leaders PDMS Southern Nomads meet defending champions Douglas Celts at King William’s College.

Nomads won the earlier fixture by only five points at Port-e-Chee and Douglas will need to reverse that if they wish to retain their title.

Douglas eased past a reinforced Castletown side just before Christmas, while Nomads have had almost a month without a match and are desperate for game time.

Quick analysis of the points-scoring stats shows that Nomads skipper Rob Keelan is the Shimmin Wilson leading scorer, with 10 tries for Southern Nomads and a further five for Castletown.

Nomads’ bootman Mark Young leads the kicking stats too and their prolific scoring means that Douglas will have their work cut out.

Stand-off Phil Plaatjies leads the Celts in points and try-scoring, with second rower Conor McCaughan the surprise back-up after snaffling four tries himself.

Nomads will undoubtedly start as favourites and a win will make it very difficult for Douglas to catch them in the race for the shield.

Elsewhere, Vagabonds B take on Western Vikings at Ballafletcher.

The game will be in the Manx Shield, but the clubs have agreed that the result will also count for their overdue meeting in the Manx Bowl.

The latter is actually quite important for Vikings as they need one point to qualify for the final and, under the current system, they will pick up a single point provided that they play. Ramsey B wait in the wings just in case.

Both sides have had their personnel problems this season.

Vikings struggled against Vagabonds in the earlier fixture and conceded their game. They have since conceded against Nomads too.

Vagas, however, struggled against Castletown in the Shield just before Christmas.

If both squads are under pressure then the game may be close, although if Vikings are at full strength they may just have the edge.

Fixtures: Saturday, January 5

North One West

Carlisle v Douglas @ Carlisle

Lancashire/Cheshire Three

Mossley Hill v Ramsey @ Mossley Hill ko 2.15pm

Vagabonds v Ruskin Park @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm

Women’s NC North West One

Vagabonds v Kendal @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

PDMS Southern Nomads v Douglas Celts @ King William’s College ko 2.15pm

Vagabonds B v Western Vikings@ Ballafletcher ko 12pm