RIVALS Kendal and Netherfield are all set for a derby clash on Saturday which could prove pivotal to both teams’ seasons.

Kendal are desperate to chalk up a win when they welcome Netherfield to Shap Road after a mixture of rained off games and indifferent form have seen them slip down the table in recent weeks.

But the visitors from Parkside Road are equally determined to notch a win after recently losing top spot in the table, and Ben Barrow’s side also know the derby is just the first leg of a weekend double with the game being quickly followed by Sunday’s Lancashire Knockout Cup last 16 showdown at Leigh.

Victory in that game will secure a home quarter final tie with the draw also dictating a home semi-final, and though overseas amateur Joel Blain is ineligible, they will otherwise take a strong side down the M6 on Sunday with that reward in mind.

Barrow said it was frustrating that Blain was unavailable especially as ‘open league’ sides such as those from the Liverpool Competition are allowed to field several contracted players, and he had contacted county officials to suggest a rule review next season.

But prior to that cup clash there is derby business to take care of first, and Netherfield secretary Ian Heath said they would take the same determination in to the game which saw them make a fine start to the campaign despite a host of injury and absence problems.

Nathan Chambers, Stuart Nixon and Matthew Goodall have all suffered shoulder problems, with the first two set to miss the entire campaign, while Scott Clement has had a finger injury and Joel Derham has also been sidelined.

“It was a big blow to lose John Huck just before the season started and then the injuries followed, but the second team players have done well when they have stepped up,” said Mr Heath.

And another youngster, 17-year-old seamer, Sam Medhurst, is set to make his debut in Saturday’s derby as Netherfield seek to shrug off the disappointment of last Saturday’s agonising last ball home defeat against Fleetwood.

“Sam’s done really well in the second team in the last couple of games and it’s great to give him a chance,” said Barrow.

But in their way stand a Kendal side who made an impressive start to the campaign but have struggled in recent weeks with their efforts not helped by the wet weather which has put paid to a string of winnable games.

However skipper Chris Miller said the spirit in the camp remained high and he was hopeful the Shap Road men can recapture their early season form and gain revenge for the recent Lancashire Knockout Cup defeat at the hands of their local rivals.

“It’s not been the greatest last few weeks for us but the weather hasn’t helped,” said the Kendal captain.

“Conditions have been poor for batting and 130 to 150 has often been a big enough score to win games.

“We need to turn our form around and there’s no better time to do it than in the derby game.”