Cheltenham Tigers can go top of Regional 2 Midlands West for the first time when they host Silhillians under the lights at the Newlands on Friday evening.

Both teams have won five and lost one of their opening six games, with second-placed Silhillians one place ahead of Cheltenham because of their superior points difference.

Leaders Newent, who have won six out of six and hold a four-point advantage over their closest rivals, host eighth-placed Malvern on Saturday.

“This game will be a bit of a marker,” said Cheltenham chairman Steve Ratcliffe. “Both teams are obviously going quite well.

“We haven’t got a settled side yet but each week we seem to be gaining a bit more momentum.”

Cheltenham won 19-18 at Worcester on Saturday while Silhillians, who won 41-0 at Worcester at the end of last month, were 13-8 winners at home to Stratford-upon-Avon at the weekend.

Cheltenham were switched to the Midlands Division from the South West Division ahead of the new campaign and Ratcliffe said the club were enjoying taking on different teams.

They’re still looking forward to playing quite a few of the teams in the 12-strong division, of course, and they are certainly looking forward to playing Solihull-based Silhillians on Friday.

“We’d like to play more games on Friday nights if we could,” said Ratcliffe. “Obviously, the opposing team have to agree to the switch and it’s not easy for clubs who have to travel a bit farther.

“But against the more local clubs it’s certainly more possible. We didn’t have a home Friday night fixture last season but we did the season before against Matson.

“It’s always a good atmosphere under lights. The players seem to enjoy the games and it frees up their Saturdays.

“When we were at the Prince of Wales Stadium we used to play quite a lot of Wednesday night games, they were always good occasions.”

Friday’s game kicks off at 7.45pm, not long after the club’s under-14s have played a fixture against a touring team.

“It should be a good night of rugby,” added Ratcliffe.