WHEN it comes to amateur rugby league in Warrington, who rules the roost?

On Saturday, the answer to that question will become clearer as Crosfields and Woolston Rovers face off in the Stuart Middleton Foundation Warrington Cup Final at Victoria Park.

A fixture that was originally meant to take place last year, it was agreed to move the game back to be a curtain-raiser for the new campaign.

Woolston are the holders having beaten their neighbours at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in August 2018 and won the National Conference League Division Three title last year.

With both clubs now in Division Two, the game represents a chance to put down an early marker.

“Pre-season has been going really well – we have been getting good numbers and we have been able to achieve most of what we wanted to do,” Woolston head coach Mal Holt said.

“We have maintained all of the NCL squad from last season and have also added a few more bodies for competition, including prop forward Ryan Hickman, who has returned from a successful spell in Australia where he was a Grand Final winner.

“We are really looking forward to the game against Crosfields – they went all the way to the Division Two play-off final last season.

“If we can compete with them on Saturday, it will give us confidence to take into what will be a very competitive Division Two this year.”

Soap have been working hard to go one better this season after their tilt at promotion ended with a heart-breaking play-off final defeat to Hull Dockers.

First though, head coach Ian Boden is focused on claiming local bragging rights.

“It’s been a long and hard pre-season, with cold nights out training in the wind and rain building up to this,” he said.

“We’ve had player changes and players changing positions this year, which has both added to the strength of the squad and improved us, but we have a bright future with players coming through the youth set-up.

“The Warrington Cup is always a special occasion for everyone involved in both clubs.

“There has been more success for Woolston in it over the years at first team level and I’m expecting another epic battle come Saturday afternoon.

“I’m sure Mal and Rob (Campbell, Woolston assistant coach) have been putting their boys through it just as much as we have.

“We us both now in the same league, this is the first of three encounters this year and I’m expecting Woolston to back up their form from last year.

“I hope the numbers will turn up and the game gets the crowd it deserves.”

Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm.