Preston Grasshoppers travel to Marl Pits this Saturday (11th April) to face Rossendale in what promises to be a hugely significant clash at the bottom end of National League 2 North. With the bottom two sides automatically relegated and third bottom entering a relegation play-off, the stakes could hardly be higher for both teams as the season approaches its conclusion.

Hoppers arrive in mixed but encouraging form. Recent weeks have seen strong performances, including victories over Darlington Mowden Park (66–26), Otley (29–11) and Sheffield Tigers (39–37), demonstrating their attacking threat and resilience. However, their most recent outing ended in a heavy 61–33 defeat at Scunthorpe, a reminder of the inconsistency that has characterised parts of their campaign. Despite that setback, Preston remain capable of putting points on the board and will be looking to rediscover the form that lifted them clear of immediate danger.

Rossendale, meanwhile, have also shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. They secured important wins against Billingham (29–24) and Sheffield Tigers (29–22), and followed that up with an impressive 38–29 victory away at Hull Ionians, highlighting their ability to compete under pressure. That run has kept them firmly in the fight to avoid the drop, and with home advantage this weekend, they will see this as a crucial opportunity to pick up more points.

In terms of the league table, both sides remain firmly involved in the relegation battle, with 9th placed Billingham (52 points) and 10th placed Hoppers (51 points) a win away from securing their National League 2 North status for next season. Every point is vital at this stage of the season, and with the threat of automatic relegation and the play-off looming, this fixture carries genuine “six-pointer” significance for both clubs.

The reverse fixture earlier in the season saw Preston Grasshoppers run out 32–20 winners at Lightfoot Green Lane, a result that will provide confidence heading into this weekend’s encounter. However, Rossendale’s recent improvement suggests this will be a far tougher test, particularly on their own patch.

With so much riding on the outcome, Saturday’s clash is set to be a fiercely contested encounter. If Hoppers can combine the attacking fluency shown in recent wins with improved defensive consistency, they will give themselves every chance of securing a vital result in what could prove a defining moment in their season.