Ah, the festive season. Presents beneath the tree, the laughter of children, the dulcet strains of carols - all complete cobblers next to the one thing that really matters at Christmas: Us v Oldham.

Forget the Queen's speech, the Morecambe and Wise special, the Bond Film and the chance to snog the neighbours, what will make Christmas for everyone reading this - whatever your allegiance - will be a stonking big win in the game of the year.

And, as always, it's never less than interesting. Oldham's much publicised ground debacle has seen them, literally, up-sticks to Ashton United; and the state of the ground combined with the vagaries of the fixture system saw them belatedly get their season underway last week with a defeat at Hull KR.

Reviews suggest that the scoreline was somewhat flattering to the Robins. This, in turn, suggests that it's going to be a testing game for all concerned on Sunday.

At the heart of Fordy's side are half backs Braddish and Roden - as capable a pair as there is in the NFP. Braddish is one to keep an eye on, his astute kicking and distribution game a major feature of last week's performance.

Running off them is Simon Knox, John Hough Bryan Henare and - if fit - Tommy Hodkinson. Hodkinson pulled out of the Hull KR game last on Friday when he worryingly reported that he was still getting headaches after being concussed in the Law Cup game three weeks ago.

Oldham will start on Sunday without Anthony Gibbons. Adding injury to insult his suspension for Sunday's game has been compounded by an ankle ligament injury he picked up in training. Casualties from the Hull KR game were Jason Clegg who had stitches in a deep cut above an eye and both Lee Doran and Gavin Dodd who picked up hands injuries that required precautionary x-rays. Fordy, however, expects to name the same 17 plus Hodgkinson if fit.

As for Hornets, despite three wins out of three we remain unconvinced and unconvincing. Whilst we have showed flickers of last season's dynamism, we're still not displaying the confidence and fluidity that we really should be capable of. Winning whilst playing badly is fine against poor teams - and perhaps it's fitting that our first real test should come from our oldest and nearest rivals.

Hally will be keen that the digit be extracted this week and that we play to our obvious potential. Sunday's game will reveal what our 'star' players are really made of and they should be champing at the bit to show us. Let's face it, August 18th next year is a long time to sulk.

With the sideshow that is the Law Cup behind us, this will be the real deal. A full blooded local derby with a point to be proven. If you can get there, you have no excuse to be anywhere else. You owe it to yourself to discover the real meaning of Christmas. See you there - but be aware, parking's not good around the ground and the Park and Ride scheme goes from Ashton town centre, not Oldham (if going out to Ashton, back to the ground, back out to Ashton and then home appeals to you two days before Xmas).