On paper there are three Manx Shield games this Saturday afternoon.

However, if you look a little closer at the fixture list you find that Southern and Emerging Nomads are playing a ’double header’ as are Douglas Celts and Castletown.

This is simply an informal arrangement whereby, instead of playing home and away, the clubs agree to play one match for all six points and is very helpful in trying to resolve a slight fixture backlog.

The Nomads v Nomads game should be a simple win for Southern.

They were on excellent form last week in the Cup against Ramsey, but there’s still a glimmer of hope for the likes of Jamie Hopwood and Juan Kneen who acquitted themselves well with Emerging and may yet grab a place in the Cheshire Plate too.

Emerging’s skipper Mike Quayle may also be brought in if only for his goal-kicking.

At Port-e-Chee, Douglas Celts make the same arrangement with Castletown and again are likely to win.

Town may well take points off some of the other sides, but the Manx Cup holders will simply be too strong for them.

Probably the most intriguing game is at QEII where Western Vikings host Vagabonds Hornets.

The two met last week so the game has a Heineken Cup feel about it, although the meeting was in a different competition. Vagas won by 10 last week.

Vikings, however, weren’t that far away and may just do a little better this time around.

Dave Christian

FIXTURES: SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

North One West

Firwood Waterloo v Douglas @ Firwood Waterloo

Lancashire/Cheshire One

Ramsey v Orrell @ Mooragh Park ko 1.30pm

Lancashire/Cheshire Two

Vagabonds v Newton-le-Willows

@ Ballafletcher ko 2pm

Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

PDMS Southern Nomads

v Emerging Nomads @ Ballakilley

Douglas Celts v Castletown @ Port-e-Chee

W’Vikings v Vagabonds Hornets @ QEII School