After a week of rest Douglas return to action this week when they host Prenton at Port E Chee. The week off should have been much appreciated by the players as they now have a hard run in to the end of season as there only break apart from Easter from League Rugby should see them in Manx Cup action.

Douglas will be buoyed going into the match by their comprehensive defeat of Liverpool Collegiate last time out. They have already also already beaten Prenton this season. But there is the rub as both these performances have been in away games and it is Douglas’s home form which has let them down home or otherwise they would be challenging for promotion.

The Douglas team is still to be finalised but going on the mantra never change a winning team you can expect this to be comfortably ignored by the Manx side although youngsters Bobby Ranscombe, Nick Horsthuis and Greg Hutchinson who performed well two weeks ago will all retain their places. The main absentee this week is captain Andy Malpass who is absent skiing and it would be wrong and unkind to state his presence will not be missed. However some of Douglas’s best performances this season were when he was absent canoeing so hopefully his absence will spur the others to up their level of performance.

Back into the side is likely to come Gwyn Davies fresh from dressing up as a lady in a grass skirt. In is unclear whether this is a joint fetish of his and flanker Pete Moorhouse who both recently appeared in pantomime in Ramsey but there is some doubt that they were strictly required to take their costumes home every night. The only other change may be at hooker but that will be a close call between Richard Forster and Ian Woods.

Prenton come into the game one place and one point behind Douglas in the league having played a game more. Recent results would also suggest there is little to choice between the two sides and over recent seasons the clubs have been well matched. At home this is a game should Douglas expect to win and if they show the intensity and desire of two weeks ago they should, but if they do not step up to the plate Prenton are more than capable of obtaining revenge for defeat earlier in the season.

The match is scheduled for an early kick off at 1.30pm so any spectators are reminded not to linger over shopping with the wife in the morning. The early kick off is partly to accommodate Prenton’s travel plans but more importantly to enable players to grab the prime seats in front of the television to marvel as Wales demonstrate the arts of try scoring and glorious running rugby as the six nations tournament kicks off this weekend. I myself will not be one of these as I will be making a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Where else would it be more appropriate to be on Valentines day? No replies from wives and girlfriends considered!