Douglas Celts and PDMS Southern Nomads meet for the first time this season in a match-up which could well define two of the domestic titles.

The Manx Trophy is league based with the top two playing off in the final and, with Nomads given the points by their own second team last week, they have the early advantage.

The pair met several times last season and honours swapped from game to game. With little current form as a gauge, it’s difficult to tell how this may go.

Nomads have, however met the Celts already in a pre-season game and played Ramsey on a similar basis before finally facing Ellesmere Port in the Cheshire Plate.

I suspect they may be a little more match ready than Douglas and should start as favourites.

The Port-e-Chee side will have players chasing first-team places and a lot to prove.

In the Shimmin Wilson Manx Bowl, Western Vikings get their campaign under way when they host Ramsey B at QEII.

Ramsey finished very strongly last week and after trailing Vagabonds 43-0, they fought back to lose 43-24 and a frantic final 10 minutes.

Vikings will therefore need to play a full 80.

The Ramsey side aren’t, however, prolific trainers and if manager Mike Caine can get his troops onto the training field more often, they’ll challenge.

New signing Dan Foley was a solid performer last week although Ramsey will miss university returnee Conall Jaques who scored two.

Men to watch out for in the Vikings line-up will no doubt be Alex Gibson and Peter Crowe.

Gibson has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and Crowe plays hard in a traditional Vikings style, whether he’s in the back row or the backline.

Based on last season’s form, Vikings should take this one.

FIXTURES: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

North One West

Douglas v Carlisle @ Port-e-Chee ko 2pm

Lancashire/Cheshire Three

Ramsey v Liverpool University @ Mooragh Park ko 1.30pm

Women’s NC North West One

Vagabonds v Leigh @ Ballafletcher ko 1pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Trophy

Douglas Celts v PDMS Southern Nomads @ Port-e-Chee ko 2.15pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Bowl

Western Vikings v Ramsey B @ QEII School ko 2.15pm