WILMSLOW welcome Northwich to Pownall Park on Saturday, hoping to avenge defeat earlier in the season.

The Wolves were a lowly ninth when they lost 27-13 to their visitors in September.

Now halfway through the season, they are sitting healthily at fifth in North Two West, just a point behind Northwich and two points ahead of class outfits like Broughton Park and Liverpool St Helens.

Given Wilmslow’s yo-yo existence in this league, they will be content, if not delighted, with their lot so far.

Coach Darren Lucas is a hard taskmaster and will not have taken defeat at Moss Farm lightly and revenge would be sweet.

A win on Saturday would see them leapfrog Northwich and maybe even go joint third with Rossendale if they lose at home to league leaders Rochdale.

Northwich lost 21-5 at Rochdale last week, but perversely beat Rossendale 17-11 the week before, indicating just how tight this league is.

As Lucas has pointed out before, just about any team can beat any other on any given day.

The Wolves are still hampered by injury in several key areas and there was hard work on both the training paddock and physio table at Pownall Park this week.

Wilmslow’s first game of the New Year will be away to Lymm, who they beat 33-0 back in September.