The countdown to Sunday starts here
Where to start with this one. Salford were comfortably parachuted out of Super League and landed in our competitoin telling anyone who'd listen that this was a temporary break from their rightful place in the scheme of things and that the other nine clubs in NL1 were just irritating hurdles on their stroll back to the top flight.
Thankfully, Featherstone and Whitehaven have dealt our swaggering neighbours a fairly major dose of reality and they come to us on Sunday with tables peculiarly turned.
Desperately languishing in third place, Salford find themselves visting unbeaten, top of the table Rochdale Hornets for what is the National League's - if not Rugby League's - game of the day.
The juxtaposition of fortunes would have been enough to add a huge dollop of spice to this fixture, but once you add a dash of Radney Bowker, you have a situation that's hotter than a napalm vindaloo.
Bowker's played the majority of his RL this season in a Hornets number 6 jersey - and the club and its fans have taken him to their hearts as the component in the machine that really makes us tick. But with his services on loan, there was always the chance that we'd lose out - and this week we get the chance to find out not only if we can run without him, but also whether Karl Harrison will play him against what has fundamentally been 'his team' this season.
Undoubtedly, it's a bit sticky for everyone concerned - and it certainly keeps things interesting and will fuel passions on Sunday.
But you've got to go a long way back to find the last time Hornets fans had a drink on the back of a victory over Salford. And even then it was away from home. January 1979 saw Hornets beat the then Red Devils 13-4 at the Willows. The last home win over Salford was in a memory stretching March 1977 when a try from Tony wainwright and four goals from John Maloney saw Hornets home 11-10. Salford's team that day included 'Superstar' Keith Fielding, Maurice Richards and David Watkins.
While Salford's line-up this time has fewer 'star-names' it's certainly full of players who could really ruin your weekend, given the chance.
Key to their capabilities is the half back partnership of Gavin Clinch and Cliff Beverley. The antidote at a glance seems strikingly simple - stop Clinch and you stop Salford. So it'll be a good day for Ian Watson to produce a top performance.
 Across the threquarter line Danny Arnold, Stuart Littler and everyone's favourite RL grand-dad Alan Hunte have the potential to cause damage as long as they don't have to run much more than 35 yards. Up front tackling machine Malcolm Alker leads a handy pack that includes a back three of Simon baldwin, Chris Charles and David Highton. It also includes Neil Baynes (left) who replaces Jason Clegg as the league's sofa-smuggler.
And as if the game wasn't already crackling with expectation, Hornets line-up contains five players who have previously played for Salford. Paul Southern, Ian Watson, Gareth Price, Jon Roper and Warren Ayres have all got a point to prove. Elsewhere in the Hornets camp, Casey Mayberry remains sidelined, as does Stevo with his shoulder problem.
Having removed Radney Bowker from the game at Batley after 50 minutes, Hornets will most probably start with Paul Smith at stand off - which is, as replacements go, pretty damn good.
With reports that Hally is looking around to stregthen the team as yet unconfirmed (with us anyway) we can probably expect a line-up similar to the one that shoved 43 points through Batley.
As National League games go - this is as big as they get. That Rochdale Hornets get to play games that really mean something is what we're all in it for - and this is such a game.
If we are to truly assert our intentions as true NL challengers this season - this is a game we must win. Victory will cement our place at the top of the division and push Salford further back into the pack. The whole of the National League is rooting for us on Sunday - and it's time for Rochdale Hornets as a club to stand up and be counted. And that means the supporters too.
If you've watched Hornets on the road this last few weeks, you'll know how exciting this game's going to be. If you've been waiting for Hornets' return to Spotland, this is about as big a homecoming as we could expect.
Let's make it an afternoon to remember. The support at Dewbury and Batley was exemplary - and we need every voice we can muster on Sunday. This match provides a chance for Rochdale Hornets to show the game that we're no longer here to make up the numbers, that we're top of the league on merit - and that having a fat pile of Super League cash makes no difference when a club stands united in determination.
Featherstone did it. Whitehaven did it. Now its Rochdale Hornets' turn. All National League eyes are on us and we won't let them down. Every Hornets supporter has a part to play in this - and a share of the glory that comes with it.
Let's have these buggers. Onward Hornets Onward.
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