AFTER taking a tumble in the rain at Manchester last time out, Northwich seek a return to winning ways today.

They host promoted Carlisle at Moss Farm, kick-off 3pm.

Blacks slipped to fourth in North One West following a 19-10 reverse in their previous game, a second defeat in their past three away fixtures.

Martin Poste’s men remain formidable opponents in front of their own supporters though, and have beaten Warrington (33-23) and Blackburn (15-0).

In fact, they have won every league fixture on home turf in 2017 – a sequence of eight successive matches.

Northwich did not play last weekend, which has provided extra time for prop Conor Lapniewski and centre James Reilly to nurse knocks sustained in the second-half at Manchester.

Brad Bates, Jonny English and Will Du Randt were all missing that day too, while Joe Maddocks (knee) has yet to feature this season.

Poste included recent recruit Regan Stirk in the first-team squad for only the second time since his arrival, and the wing man will be hoping for an opportunity soon to show what he can do.

Carlisle, who were promoted as North Lancs/Cumbria champions at the end of last season, have won their past two matches.

They followed a 29-20 win against Rochdale with an impressive 29-27 success when Warrington visited Cumbria last time out.

A record of three wins, and as many defeats, leaves them seventh with a five-point gap to their hosts this weekend.

Northwich seconds, victors only once in the North West Intermediate League’s Division On to date, host their Liverpool Collegiate counterparts.

However Mike Penny’s men are the only side to have beaten table-toppers Kirkby Lonsdale this season, and are adjusting to life at a higher level following their promotion last term.