DAISY Hill are looking forward to a historic league derby clash with close neighbours Westhoughton at home tomorrow.

The two clubs, who are less than a mile away from each other, have not met in a league game, when they were both in the same division on merit, for at least 89 years.

They played each other when the Bolton-based former Bolton Association clubs, including Daisy Hill, joined up with the Bolton League two years ago and all the teams were in one big division.

When the 20-club league was split at the end of that season Westhoughton, one of the traditional Bolton League powerhouse clubs, finished in the top half which gave them a place in the Premiership division last season, while Daisy finished in the bottom half and played in the second-tier Association division.

The St James Street club got promoted last season along with champions Atherton to earn a place in the Premiership and the prospect of two derby games against their old rivals Westhoughton.

Daisy have lost their opening two league games by convincing scores against Walkden and Farnworth Social Circle – two of the, at least, half dozen sides many believe have the tools to win the title this year – and the visit of Westhoughton brings with it the promise of another tough challenge as well as a big occasion.

"We've had two games and it's been 'welcome to the Prem Daisy' because it's not easy," said Daisy Hill captain Steve Chilton.

"That's what we're here for, to play these sides and see how competitive we can be, and we'll keep going.

"It's a big game again on Saturday, but they're all big games – there are no games in this division when you can turn up and think this isn't going to be a hard game.

"Every game is special, but it's derby day on Saturday, which gives it an added extra."

Despite losing the opening game of the season at home to Social Circle by 181 runs, Chilton said there were positives to take out of it.

The seven-wicket defeat at Walkden last week, however, he conceded was just a case of the opposition's depth of class.

"Chris Barrow was the difference for Social," he said.

"We bowled reasonably well up to him coming in at six then they put on 120 in seven overs.

"He scored 92 in 28 balls and that was it.

"Last week we got battered by Walkden, but hey ho. They are an unbelievable bowling unit [Daisy were all out for 80 runs in 33 overs].

"Their discipline with the ball was exceptional, they never gave you a chance with any ball.

"And then every player you got out you had another ex-first class player coming in."

The defeats will not get Daisy down, Chilton insists, as they maintain their focus on their pre-season goal of staying up.

"We are under no illusions," he added. "We have had a wake-up call in the opening two games and it's going to be a long season, we know that, but we are not scared of any team and we are going to play good, hard cricket.

"Bowling-wise so far, apart from seven overs against Social Circle we have performed. Steve Hodgkinson, Neil Tong and our pro have done all right.

"If we mature a bit with the bowling and bat to the full 50 overs we'll give anyone a good game."