West Bowling will have to turn the Premier Division formbook on its head in the National Conference League to come away from Leigh Miners' Rangers with any reward.

Rangers have won five on the trot at home while Bowling have lost five on the road.

Bowling scrum half Steve Illingworth returns to action after a damaged shoulder, and coach Peter Simpson, who is out with a groin injury, said: "Steve will offer us a dimension we have been lacking in the past few weeks. He has the ability to direct the pack in a structured fashion.

"He also gives the team a great go-forward as he will continually attack the opposition."

Gareth Cullington fills Simpson's boots at stand-off. Also missing are Nigel Halm-shaw (knee) and Liam Martin (hamstring).

Meanwhile, third-placed visitors Heworth from York have declined to travel to joint leaders Dudley Hill for a rearranged Division Two match.

Look out for an upset in the opening round of the Pennine League President's Cup when Division One Birken-shaw travel to Elland.

The Halifax cup kings may be third in the Premier but they have slipped on one too many banana skins already this term, and with Birky's best forward Paul Bancroft having registered a hat-trick when they outgunned Illingworth last time out, the former holders could be in trouble despite home advantage.

Clayton should go through comfortably against Premier colleagues Siddal A at Lidget Green.

Clayton suffered a heart-breaking five-point exit from the Halbro Yorkshire Cup quarter-finals at Skirlaugh last week, which means they will be in no mood to compromise against a Siddal outfit still searching for a win after having points deducted for fielding ineligible players.

Division One's bottom two Victoria Ran-gers and Park Amateurs meet at Eccleshill in what should be an arm wrestle.

The Vics are miles better than their lowly position indicates and if they manage to get a full compliment on the field they are favourites to reach round two.

In round one of the Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy, former West Bowling favourite Danny York rejoins them from Guiseley to face visitors Calder Valley.

Skipper David Whiteley returns after work commitments for Dudley Hill A's game against Odsal Sedbergh at Odsal Rec. Wyke are at old foes Littleborough.