The hosts are third in the table with two games in hand on Northern and South Shields Westoe who are all chasing the championship and guaranteed promotion and the runners-up and play-off spot.

It will be quite a task for the Whites who went down 40-22 to Barney last October although Rovers were guilty of generosity for four of the six tries scored by the visitors that day.

The Friaragemen have won at Ryton and drawn with Stockton on home turf last week to give new head coach Jon Benson a good start to life at the New Friarage.

If Rovers could come away with something from the match then they could improve their league standing further with the clubs around them having difficult games.

The White Shirts are waiting on the fitness of Liam Austwicke and the availability of Kevin Maguire but are boosted by the return of Callum Whitehead, the lock or back row forward having enjoyed a tremendous season to date.

Rovers: Rochester, Harrison, Austwicke, Evens, A Smith, M Barnfield, S Barnfield, A Flounders, AN Other, Pinchen (c), Whitehead, Ryan, O’Callaghan, Wood, Dring. Subs: Pelser, Lloyd, Lane