Albion's crucial trip to Cumbria to face Carlisle on Saturday will be controlled by a Cumbrian.
Mike Pike has been put in charge of a match vital to both clubs as they chase promotion from League One.
The appointment of Pike is bound to raise eyebrows. He has refereed at Carlisle before but not when there has been such an obvious north-south divide between the teams involved.
Pike last took charge of Albion when they drew 3-3 at Leeds in the Championship in September 2005.
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