Defending a trophy on the back of eight weeks without any competitive action is hardly an ideal scenario, but that's exactly the task at hand for Valley as they host Tupton in a NLD Vase quarter final, sponsored by Cafeology.

The home team will be trying to put a disappointing league season, which saw them relegated from Division 3 South, behind them as they host a club who have just finished 3rd in Counties 3 Midlands East (N) West and beat Amber Valley in the previous round.

Valley, who reached the quarter finals with a walkover victory against local rivals Buxton, have always found Tupton a happy hunting ground, having owned the Chesterfield-based clubs 7s trophy for several years, but, apart from a 2021 pre-season friendly, it's some years since the two clubs met in a competitive fixture.

With the current season winding down the social side of the sport will also be to the fore and (weather permitting) a post-match BBQ will be held at newly reopened Woodroffe Arms so it'd be nice to see both clubs well represented.