JOEL HOWSE is set to make his first-team debut for Kendal for the National League home match against Macclesfield on Saturday (2pm kick-off) after injury again struck the side.

Howse, an established Second XV player, replaces Dan Bowman in the back row and takes over at blindside flanker.

Bowman limped off with a calf injury in last Saturday's 26-3 defeat at Fylde and there is an enforced change at No. 8 with Adrian Bateson on holiday in Australia for a month. Liam Hayton assumes his duties at the back of the scrum.

Lock-forward Mike Capstick continues after his return last week. Work commitments in Manchester have made him unavailable for much of the season.

Meanwhile, Kendal persevere with the half-back switch tried against Fylde that sees Jimmy Thompson go to stand-off and Andrew Boardley at scrum-half.

Four-from-bottom Macclesfield have won two of their eight league matches this season, a surprise defeat of hotpots Bradford and Bingley coming after an opening-day win against Hull Ionians.

They last played in the league on November 12 when beaten 28-12 by Darlington Mowden Park.

Kendal's defeat at Fylde took their losing sequence in the league to eight straight defeats without picking up a point yet.

TEAM: S. Mulholland, J. Balmer, M. Armstrong, R. Dobie, D. Bibby, J. Thompson, A. Boardley, B. Coxon (capt), D. Green, R. Harryman, R. Dougherty, M. Capstick, J. Howse, G. Holmes, L. Hayton.

Replacements: I. Ross, D.

Preston, J. Gough, C. Park.

The match is sponsored by Jewson Ltd.

n There was a consensus from the NCA clubs' representatives meeting on Tuesday to pursue a 16-team league format for next season, which if eventually agreed by the RFU, could mean no relegation this seasonbut the proposal still has a long way to go, so watch this space.