FIRTS plays third in a mammoth Furness Premier Division clash at Newby Terrace tomorrow.

Leaders Kirkby United are the visitors to take on Barrow Celtic, with just two points separating the teams at the top of the pyramid.

Celtic, champions in 2014/15, will be looking to usurp their opponents – who took the crown from them last season – in what is a tight battle at the summit.

Only three points divide the top four teams in the division with almost half the season gone with Kirkby heading second-placed Hawcoat Park reserves by a point, the same margin that keeps apart Hawcoat and Celtic and Celtic from fourth-placed Holker Old Boys reserves.

Kirkby have not conceded in their last four league games ahead of tomorrow's encounter – including a remarkable 22-0 victory over Furness Rovers reserves at the Community Centre two weeks ago.

Paul Cleasby followed up his five goals in the Rovers success with another as Kirkby beat Furness Cavaliers reserves 4-0 last week. Matty Bruce and Scott Watkinson were also among the goals

Their only Premier Division defeat came at GSK Ulverston Rangers reserves in August, and since then a 1-1 home draw with Croftlands Park is all that has stopped them having a 100 per cent record.

Celtic likewise have just a single loss on their league record, suffered at home to Hawcoat Park in mid-September, so this truly is a clash of form sides.

Rob Johnson scored a hat-trick in their 7-3 success at Croftlands last week, where both Connor Smith and Stuart Thomson picked up braces.

Hawcoat will be waiting for a slip-up from either side as they face bottom-placed Furness Rovers tomorrow, with Holker reserves on a week off from league action.

The Old Boys first team, meanwhile, have something of a player shortage.

Brian Dawson will be packing his boots for tomorrow's trip to North West Counties Division One high-fliers City of Liverpool due to chronic absencee.

The Holker boss is missing several first-teamers due to a combination of injuries, suspensions and other commitments, so fears he might be required to roll back the years at the age of 38.

"I'm going to have to dig my boots out," said the former Barrow AFC striker, who will also seize the opportunity to blood a few promising youngsters such as Harry Mellen and Jamie Hodgson.

Dawson has been delighted with the way his team have performed since he took over the reins, and saw them produce an excellent 3-2 extra-time victory over leaders Whitchurch Alport in the Reusch First Division Cup quarter-finals last Saturday.

"I'm really pleased with everything so far," said the Millom-based boss.

"The lads have been brilliant. The way we are playing really suits them and it has been fab, although I think we are going to be up against it this week because we've got loads missing."

Of the victory over Whitchurch he added: "We made hard work of it really. We dominated the first half and could have been out of sight. It was similar to the game the week before in that we weren't clinical enough, so I feared the worst when they equalised.

"They are a good side, there's doubting that, but we dug deep in extra time, and went 3-1 up and managed to hold on so it was a really good result."

In the West Lancs Premier Division, both Vickerstown and Crooklands Casuals have tough away assignments.

Town travel to second-placed Blackpool Wren Rovers and Cassies to third-placed Fulwood Amateurs looking for points.

Division One sees derby action between GSK Ulverston Rangers and Askam United at Canal Foot.