RYAN Canning, the league’s top scorer, admits tomorrow’s clash with Padiham at the Arbories has all the ingredients for a powder keg clash.

Wanderers lock horns with their former all-rounder Brannon Varley for the first time since he crossed Pendle Hill for Wanderers’ old rivals Padiham.

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“Brannon will be desperate to put one over us, so it could be a bit of a grudge match,” said Canning, the former Nelson pro.

Ribb skipper Ian Britcliffe said: “Brannon’s a lovely lad, but he made his decision to go and that was that.

“He still lives in Clitheroe and gives us plenty of stick when we see him at the club, but we are still mates.

“I’m sure that one day he will come back and play for Ribblesdale Wanderers because that is his club.

“However, there will be no sentiment tomorrow, we want to win the game and continue with our best start to the season for many years.”

Ribblesdale Wanderers grabbed their fourth win in six starts last weekend, edging out Cherry Tree by three wickets and assisted by Jordan Britcliffe’s 6-59.

Now, with a crunch game against Padiham tomorrow and a mouth-watering Ribble Valley derby against Whalley on Sunday, this weekend’s double header will be sure to provide another test of their credentials.

“The opening bowling pair – Jordan Britcliffe and Jake Sunderland – have done really well and they’ve provided our cutting edge with the ball,” added Canning.

“With the bat, Dave Steinson has batted beautifully, but really everybody has chipped in.”

Canning is not one for personal milestones at the crease, but the runs have flowed this season and he looks sure to provide the foundation stone for Ribblesdale’s growing challenge.

Canning, Nelson’s professional last term, needs just one more run to be the first batsman to break through the 300 runs barrier this term following his 126 against Edenfield last month.

“That would be nice, to maybe reach a 1,000 runs, but the main target this year it to get back in the top flight.

“Any batsman would be pleased to be scoring decent runs, and even when I don’t get a big innings, it is equally important to make sure that I hang around as long as possible in the middle and keep contributing to the side.”

Champions Clitheroe, who are searching for their third title in as many years, face a Roses clash against Settle at the Marshfield Ground tomorrow.

Clitheroe have won all their fixtures, but Settle are just four points adrift and could provide them with their toughest test so far.

Today’s fixtures: Brinscall v Barnoldswick, Earby v Baxenden, Euxton v Edenfield, Great Harwood v Brooksbottom, Padiham v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Read v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Settle v Clitheroe, Whalley v Cherry Tree.

Tomorrow: Barnoldswick v Edenfield, Brinscall v Cherry Tree, Brooksbottom v Earby, Clitheroe v Read, Euxton v Great Harwood, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Settle, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Whalley, Salesbury v Padiham.