This Saturday’s clash between Scunthorpe and Preston Grasshoppers at Heslam Park carries significant importance for both sides, but especially for the Hoppers. Preston Grasshoppers arrive on the back of a difficult run of form in 2026, having lost key matches in the early months of the year, including recent defeats to Sheffield and Macclesfield and a narrow loss to Hull earlier in January. Their league position has slipped into the lower half of the table, currently sitting 11th on 33 points, with Scunthorpe below them on 18 points at the foot of the table highlighting that they have work to do to climb clear of the relegation zone.

Scunthorpe themselves have struggled throughout the season, with only a handful of positive results and a place at the bottom of the National League 2 North standings. Their recent fixtures show a tough campaign so far, including narrow defeats such as their 7–13 loss to Rossendale last weekend and other heavy losses earlier in the season. Scunthorpe will be keen to use home advantage this weekend to spring a surprise and continue their fight to avoid the drop.

The reverse fixture earlier in the season was a tough afternoon for Scunthorpe as Preston ran out 74–7 winners at Lightfoot Green, an emphatic victory that saw the Hoppers score eleven tries and dominate throughout. That result will be fresh in both sets of minds: for Hoppers, it’s proof of what they are capable of when firing on all cylinders, but for Scunthorpe it’s motivation for revenge and a chance to show how much they’ve grown since October.

For Preston Grasshoppers, consistency has been elusive this term. After that big win over Scunthorpe in October, they have alternated results and slipped from mid-table security into a slender buffer over the relegation places. Turning performances into points consistently will be crucial over the remaining fixtures as they aim to climb the table and arrest their downturn. Scunthorpe, by contrast, know only too well that victories are hard-earned in this division and they will be desperate to take at least a losing bonus point from the contest and build confidence.

Ultimately, this match represents more than just league points: for the Hoppers it’s a chance to halt a slide and regain momentum, and for Scunthorpe it’s an opportunity to prove they can compete with the sides above them and begin turning around a challenging campaign. Expect a physical, high-stakes encounter with plenty riding on the result for both clubs.