By Matt Lawton
December 20 2007

After both sides were knocked out of the FA Trophy last weekend, by Workington and Cambridge City respectively, Saturday afternoon sees RMI travel to Northamptonshire to lock horns with promotion chasing Kettering Town in a vital Blue Square North encounter.

Leigh boss Steve Bleasdale have several new signings available for selection after they were cup-tied for the 3-1 Trophy defeat to Workington at Hilton Park last weekend, with James McCarthy and Michael Oates vying for selection, while former Worksop wide man Andy Wright will be looking for his first start after making a second half appearance in the Co-Operative Challenge Cup win at Ashton Athletic earlier in the month.

Hosts Kettering are in fourth position in Blue Square North with three wins and three draws in their past six league encounters being coupled with an impressive 2-0 victory at Harrogate Town in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round.

Last season's visit to Kettering saw RMI crash to a 4-0 defeat, while the Poppies were also 4-1 victors at Hilton Park earlier in the season.

After goalkeeper Ben Saynor made his third appearance of his loan spell from Bradford City against Workington, Bleasdale has to choose between keeping faith with the under-fire youngster or restore apparent first choice Tim Dittmer to the starting line up for the particularly daunting prospect of facing Kettering's strike force.