HAVING dropped to fourth in the National League Two (North) table, Tynedale will look to heap further pressure on the teams at the top when they welcome old foes Blaydon to Corbridge.

Missing the past two weekends due to the icy weather conditions, a return to action on Saturday should herald the biggest crowd of the season at Tynedale Park as they host the return fixture of the River Tyne derby.

Before the cold snap, Tyne sat joint top of the division, but have dropped to fourth following the two postponements of the debacle at home to Stourbridge and last week's call off at bottom club Wharfedale.

They are only six points off leaders Hinckley with two games in hand, following their rivals' surprise 12-8 defeat at Chester at the weekend.

Blaydon go into the game after an idle weekend, too, as their home game with South Leicester was also postponed.

After being relegated from National League One last season, Blaydon have struggled and lost 10 of their 14 matches. They have the second worst defensive record in the league having conceded 461 points.

Ally Hogg started the campaign as director of rugby and was in charge in the home fixture, which Tynedale won 33-12, but he has since been replaced as player/coach by another former Newcastle Falcons forward, Matt Thompson.

Their season began with three defeats in a row, including the hammering by Tynedale at Crow Trees in early September.

Bright spots have been rare for Blaydon this term but home wins over Otley (35-24), Chester (29-14) and Sheffield Tigers (36-34) feature heavily, with the solitary success from eight away trips being a 27-19 win at Wharfedale.

The game kicks off at 2pm.