WORCESTER will once more be up against it this weekend as they welcome Regional 2 West Midlands league leaders Old Halesonians to Westons Fields.

The hosts remain in their losing rut that has seen them slip away from the top of the table after five consecutive defeats.

And it gets no easier this Saturday as the in-form league leaders Old Hales make the trip down the M5 looking to extend their eight-match winning streak.

The visitors reached top spot in the division last weekend following their nailbiting 22-21 win at previous leaders Ludlow away from home.

It's a big game for both sides, with Hales needing to win to hold off chasing Malvern, whilst another defeat would see Worcester drop further away from the top six.

For Malvern, they face a tricky test away at Stratford Upon Avon, a team that are just six points behind them in the standings despite being down in sixth place.

Hereford ended Stratford's five match winning run last weekend but they will still feel capable of toppling Malvern.

The away side on Saturday sit in second, one point off Old Hales and on an eight match winning run of their own, looking to make it nine and keep the pressure on the top.

Elsewhere, fifth placed Hereford go to Whitchurch looking to maintain their position in the title chasing pack and fourth plays third when Ludlow and Walsall go head-to-head.

But whilst there are some big games at the top of the table, there are some key clashes at the bottom.

The four at the base of the league are all playing each other this weekend.

Droitwich will be eyeing their first win of the season when they go to third bottom Crewe and Nantwich.

As for second bottom Evesham, they go to Wolverhampton with hopes of a second win of the 2022/23 campaign.