Spalding RFC v Market Rasen & Louth (Saturday, 2.15pm): TOWN’S first fixture of 2012 couldn’t really be much bigger.
A heated rivalry has built up between Spalding and Rasen over the past three seasons, with little love lost between the Lincolnshire duo.
But Harry Sharman’s side come into the Memorial Field clash in the bottom two of Midlands One East and have more than bragging rights on their mind.
The Town skipper admits that he and his players are in a relegation dogfight – and feels it’s time for a fresh approach.
Sharman said: “We’ve had some very poor results and some of it hasn’t been good enough.
“But the break may do us good. I’ve had a chat to the coaches and we’ve come up with a few new gameplans.
“Rasen are one of our main rivals and in recent years we’ve probably had the better of it. That was until this season, our showing at their place was an embarrassment.
“Hopefully we can get the right result at the weekend and crack on from there, we need a good run under our belts.”
Town’s chances will be boosted by the return to full fitness of Tom Duerden. The imposing Josh McNally is also back in the squad, but Harry Brown misses out with an injured hamstring.
Seventh-placed Rasen go into the game 11 points clear of Spalding.