MERRYCK PRINGLE is set to make his long awaited debut for Rishton on Saturday out to prove that there is life after Allan Donald.

The defending champions - searching for their third successive Lancashire League title - have started in fine form winning two out of their three opening games.

And while they don't feature amongst the title favourites, skipper John Wharton says the Blackburn Road side will be there or there about come September.

He said: "If we win both our games on the weekend we'll be in a better position than we were this time last year. We seem to have be written off this time because we have not strengthen the squad but I still believe we have a strong enough squad to challenge for the title again. When you consider we have had to use sub pros so far we haven't done too badly.

Getting Merryck into the side will be a great boost for us as it will give us the consistency that is vital."

He added: "We've been a little bit unfortunate because up to a month ago we were in line to have Russell Davies, Russell Whalley and former pro Peter Sleep all in the side.

"But within weeks Lancashire would not release Peter where he is second team coach, Russell Davies is unavailable due to work commitments and Russell Whalley is still recovering from a double hernia operation."

But apart from the continued absence of Whalley, Rishton have a full squad to pick from for Saturday's trip to Todmorden and for Sunday's visit of a Burnley side still looking for their first win. Fixtures: Saturday: Accrington v Haslingden, Enfield v Burnley, East Lancs v Colne, Nelson v Bacup, Ramsbottom v Lowerhouse, Rawtenstall v Church, Todmorden v Rishton.

Sunday: Bacup v Accrington, Church v East Lancs, Colne v Ramsbottom, Enfield v Rawtenstall, Haslingden v Nelson, Lowerhouse v Todmorden, Rishton v Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.