Thornton 1st and 2nd teams are back in business this weekend as they look to do the league double over their respective opposition before the club parties in style for Mark Burrows leaving party.

The 1st have the luxury of choosing from a 25 man squad for the fixture, but have influential scrum half Chris Clapp unavailable. In the front row, Doug Riley, Ben Calvert and Neil Wright look to showcase the dominance they showed in the away fixture. Danny Smith took a slight knock in training this week and would have started, but as a precaution he takes a place on the bench providing cover alongside replacement openside Jonnie Cooper. In the second row, usual stalwarts Joe Connell and Tom Cockcroft look to continue the good form. Michael Docherty, the Thornton number 8 has certainly turned a corner this season and is playing the season of his life. He is starting to read the game well and building a good understanding with the pack.

In the backs, Jon Green is welcomed back in to the fold with a start at scrum half. Due to work committments, he has been unavailable so far this year, but his return in such a crucial game is welcome. The rest of the backline is unchanged from last week with Ryan Haywood and Phil Gamble looking to impress in the centres once again. Pete Ashton Yamnikar and Mark Burrows look to add width and pace on the wing with recent hatrick hero David Beardsall starting at fullback.

Joining Smith and Cooper on the bench is the returning utility forwards Johni Drake and Ben Lester as well as Craig Ratcliffe. Thorntons youngest starlet Elliott Hamilton also claims a recall to the first team after impressing in his last 2 games. Coach Paul Moran stated this week 'After a successful training session this week with Fylde's Chris Briers, we are fully prepared for Eagle. The guys know what it takes to beat this team and we have certainly names a squad capable of doing it. The recent form showed is exciting and we are looking forward to improving it once again'

The 2nd team travel to local rivals Blackpool RUFC who have been struggling on and off the pitch in recent seasons. But, the local rivalry will surely be tested once again this weekend as Thornton name possibly their strongest lineup of the season. The front row of Harry Stephenson, Matt Williams and ex Blackpool prop Jonny Wilkinson look to provide strength in the front row. Baz Tucker who racked up 5 tries last time out joins Jamie Beecher in the engine room with Ste Leech looking to have a full game at six after a couple of impressive weeks with the 1st team. Harry Dawson is also given a run out in the openside position with Pete Rae starting at 8.

In the Backs, Dan Powell skippers the side from scrum half looks to work well with fly half Ben Eaves. The usual centres of Rick Brown and Dave Snelson once again look to impress with wingers Mike Davenport and Tom Bailey adding pace. Oli Kelly marshalls the troops from full back and looks to continue his development. The 2nd team also welcome back on to the bench returning winger Adam Lester who have been unavaialble in recent weeks.