SETTLE and Barnoldswick lock horns for the third successive season in the Ramsbottom Cup semi-final this Sunday at Marshfield.

The North Craven side won at their West Craven rivals on their way to winning the Ramsbottom Cup last season. But the year before that saw fortunes reversed as Barlick won at Settle.

Both sides go into this weekend's programme in contrasting form. When Barlick beat Settle in the league in early June, it looked like they were the more likely local side to win some silverware this season.

That win put them within touching distance of top spot and they became the only Craven side to reach the third round of the Lancashire Cup.

But successive defeats in the league and their recent exit from the Lancashire Cup means the Ramsbottom Cup is now their main hope of glory.

Skipper John Pickup said: "We probably need to go on a 10 or 11 game unbeaten run to win the league so the cup's going to have to be the one. Settle have some good amateurs, who will be even more important with it being a cup match. We need our best players to come good and others to fill in around them."

It's 20 years since Barlick last lifted the Ramsbottom Cup and Pickup admitted: "It's time we got some new pictures up in the clubhouse."

In contrast to the Victory Park side, Settle have won every game since the league defeat by Barlick and now lead the Ribblesdale League Senior Division.

Settle skipper Andrew Davidson said: "It's always a good game between the teams, but we are on form and should be a different proposition to when we last played them."

He puts the transformation since then largely down to the signing of professional Mohammad Hafeez after former pro Robin Morris left due to a persistent injury.

"Everything was not looking rosy a month or so ago but since signing Hafeez, we have not looked back."

Not only has the Pakistani test player made significant contributions with bat and ball, Davidson said his arrival had lifted the amateurs at the club.

"They were on a bit of a downer before but him coming here has given them a psychological boost more than anything. He has really pepped things up."

Davidson will have six out and out bowlers to choose from having selected John Hughes, who was man of the match for Settle in last year's final against Great Harwood. Along with Hughes, Stuart Hornby, Paul Ridgway, Hafeez, new signing Moeen Saeed and Davidson himself will make up the Settle attack, while batsman Mark Verden makes his return following a hernia injury.

Professional Jeevantha Kulatunga is certainly one player who Barlick need firing on all cylinders. The Sri Lankan scored a half-century in the league encounter with Settle but has not reached the heights of the previous two seasons with the bat so far.

The batting as a whole has been a source of concern of late to skipper John Pickup, who at the start of the season saw it as being his side's strong point.

With the likes of Ian Scothern, Matthew Nutter and Raja Arshad, in addition to Kulatunga, Barlick have the firepower to make a big score. With the ball, they will look to Mike Scothern to continue the prolific form he has shown for most of this season.

The match starts at 1.30pm.

Barnoldswick II are also in semi-final action. They visit Edenfield II in the Lawrenson Cup.