Old Mutual Douglas and Manchester were both promoted to North One West last season and meet again at Port-e-Chee on Saturday.
Douglas put the visiting Mancunians to the sword 56-12 in October 2016, and nearly took all the points in a thrilling 15-14 shoot-out at the Grove Park return.
Manchester have won once on the road at 14th-placed St Benedict’s while at home have beaten Rochdale in 13th and, in their best performance to date, third-placed Northwich.
Currently heading the visitors by one point in the league courtesy of a losing bonus point from a dramatic match at Stockport last weekend, Douglas have an almost full strength squad for the 1pm kick-off in front of lunch hosts and sponsor Captima.
Aiden O’Shea shone against Stockport and will feature, and Akkie Van Den Berg could make his first home start of the season.
Glyn Hooson-Owen starts in the front row, and Carl Markl-Ferns, Felipe Periera, Ralph Clarke and Simon Hoddinott contest the other front and back-row berths alongside Chris Bollen.
Nathan Knights is rewarded for his Celts form with a squad place, which will put pressure on wingers Adam Boyd and Nick Brooker.
Douglas squad: Glyn Hooson-Owen, Filipe Periera, Simon Hoddinott, Max Singer, Paul Leivers, Akkie Van Den Berg, Sam Games, Liam Kirkpatrick, Bryn Snellgrove, Carl Murray, Nick Brooker, Aidan O’Shea, Conor Stephens, James Maddrell, Max Morley-Green, Dom Winrow, Nathan Knights, Ralph Clarke, Chris Bollen, Carl Markl-Ferns, Adam Boyd, Shaun Wyllie.
FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4:
North One West
Douglas v Manchester @ Port-e-Chee ko 1pm
South Lancashire/Cheshire Two
Wigan v Vagabonds @ Wigan
South Lancashire/Cheshire Three (South)
Wallasey v Ramsey
@ Wallasey ko 2.15pm
Women’s NC North West One
Vagabonds v Preston Grasshoppers
@ Ballafletcher ko 1.30pm
Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield (round one)
both ko @ 2.15pm
Vagabonds B v Douglas Celts @ Ballafletcher
Southern Nomads v Western Vikings @ KWC
Ramsey B v Emerging Nomads @ Mooragh Park




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