Old Mutual Douglas make a third attempt to face Stockport in North West One after weather and mechanicals scuppered the Manx side’s previous two flights.

Although the hosts occupy sixth place and Douglas second, the Bramhall side could overtake the islanders with a bonus-point win if the visitors take nothing away.

The Douglas incentive will be to close the margin to league leaders Carlisle, and any points will keep the Manx side in second.

Fitness tests are the order of the day as injuries come and go, and Carl Murray, Sam Mete and Harry Hewson are likely to return to the squad, with Murray stepping in at number 10 for an absent Bryn Snellgrove.

Craig McGee and Guy Wood are rested after injuries picked up at Broughton Park, and Filipe Pereira has made Celts appearances after a long-term ankle injury and is rewarded with a call-up.

Josh Carine also earns a re-call after several good performances for the second string, while Max Singer returns to second-row action with Dom Winrow available alongside.

Liam Kirkpatrick will be hooked up behind in his favoured number eight role.

The versatile Will Cain replaces Aidan O’Shea and moves out to centre, and Shaun Wyllie makes another start at scrum-half. Douglas have impressed at Port-e-Chee this season, but have been less fortunate on the road.

Beating bottom-of-table De La Salle was expected, but the one-point loss at Manchester and last week’s losing margin at Broughton Park were perhaps less so.

Douglas will need more than a semblance of this season’s undefeated home form under their travelling belts to prevail away from home, but given the itinerary they routinely undergo, Douglas are probably best equipped to do so.

Douglas squad:

Todd Mcdowell, Michael Dunnett, Harry Raven, Max Singer, Dom Winrow, Niall Killey, Sam Games, Liam Kirkpatrick, Shaun Wyllie, Carl Murray, Josh Carine, Will Cain, Lance Wyllie, Adam Boyd, Sam Mete, Robert Todd, Harry Hewson, Karl Evans or Filipe Pereira.

l With cup competitions being played across England, the Manx teams all get a break this Saturday with the exception of Douglas who have a re-arranged game.

The glasnost has also spread to the domestic scene with the Shimmin Wilson sides also getting a week off.

There is of course the lure of the silver screen where England take on the All Blacks in a rare test match at Twickenham and last, but not least, the changing wind of player welfare is sweeping through the sport from top to bottom.