This is the final fixture before the kick-off time shifts to 2.15pm and the hosts will be wanting to build on the 39-20 home win over Ryton in their last home game and put last Saturday’s poor display at Stockton, when they went down 23-14, behind them.

Sunderland are bottom of Durham Northumberland One after coming up from Division Two as runners-up to champions Ryton. They have struggled to make an impact and last week lost at Ashbrooke 75-5 to Guisborough.

The Friaragemen put in a good start last week at Station Road but ended up being beaten by the better side on the day. Stockton were no great shakes but their pack managed to get Rovers onto the back foot and after turning round 14-5 down, they created enough pressure and chances to win. The White Shirts didn’t help themselves with a poor first half when they had the advantage of the slope and wind and failed to correctly use them.

There was a shortage of passion and aggression and in what is a very competitive division this season that proved and will continue to prove costly.

The Whites, given Sunderland’s record so far this season should take the win and a try-scoring bonus point and a big points total will restore some of the momentum lost last week.

Michael Tucker and Jonny Cushlow both miss the match with Kevin Maguire and Glen Wise coming into the front row to replace them. Andrew Pinchen is fit after injury and comes in at lock. Callum Whitehead is also fit again and is named on the bench alongside Ian Flounders and Daz Fawcett.

Rovers: Austwicke, Grand, Gunn, Coulson (c), Smith, M Barnfield, S Barnfield, A Flounders, Maguire, Wise, Baxter, Pinchen, Church, Maddison, Foster. Subs: Fawcett, Whitehead, I Flounders