Barrow Island, fresh from an impressive 23-16 win over Crosfields at Warrington, are on the road again and make the cross-country trip to Hull in their bid to narrow the gap on the leading two in the NCL Second Division.

Their opponents are third-placed Hull Dockers.

Coach Joe Elliott will have to take a late head count before deciding on the final line-up because of work commitments and injuries but he said: “We will still go with a strong 17 for a game that is something of a free hit for us. I expect us to have a real go at promotion this season and a win will really push us up.”

Barrow Island are just a point behind Dockers, who had a comfortable in over Shaw Cross last weekend to keep them in the top three.

Encouraged by last weekend’s promising show against Bradford Dudley Hill, Askam stick as close as possible to the team that ran the Yorkshiremen close before going down 18-14.

They make three changes – two of them forced on them by injury – for the trip to face league leaders Ince Rose Bridge.

A broken wrist bone keeps Dave Finlayson out of the side and he is replaced on the wing by Gareth Richards, with Danny Rhodes and Jack Cairns also coming into the side.

Completing our trio of NCL clubs on their travels are Millom – although they stay in the county for a Cumbrian derby against League newcomers Hensingham.

Coach Tom Sibley is looking to his side to pick up their intensity for the visit to one of the two clubs below them in the table.

“We have been a bit flat for a couple of weeks, but we will train hard this week for what is an important game and as a local derby it is sure to be tough,” he said.

Hindpool Tigers will be hoping to follow victories over Pilkington’s and Wigan St Judes by making it three wins in a row when they entertain for South Lancashire opposition in Wigan St Patricks A in the North West League at Brisbane Park.