Emmerdale‘s Mackenzie Boyd is determined to make John Sugden pay next week, as Aaron and John’s stag do kicks off in dramatic fashion. Could this be the moment the two men live out the consequences of their sinister rivalry?

Outside the Hide, Aaron and John’s loved ones – including Marlon, Paddy and Matty – show their enthusiasm as they gear up for a paintballing session.

However, Mack is filled with more anger than anticipation, after John takes a moment to issue his enemy with a chilling warning…

“This feud is rapidly heating up. All the other stags are giddy with excitement, but Mack just can’t get over his gut instinct about John,” our Emmerdale source reveals.

“As we know, Mack’s right to be worried sick for Aaron, but John is just too good at hiding his true colours in front of everyone else. It’s enough to drive Mack mad if it continues for much longer! You can only imagine how angry he feels when John privately sidles up to him with a threat…”

Afterwards, the lads scurry into the countryside to begin their paintballing battle. While it’s supposed to be a bit of friendly fun, Mack views the activity as an opportunity to act on his emotions.

Seething, the car mechanic sets off into the woods with the plan to thwart his nemesis.

However, clever John is quick to suss out that Mack is up to no good and follows his trail. Will the game of cat and mouse lead to an epic showdown?

“Mack is best friends with Aaron so there’s an element of protective behaviour from him here. He’s never really seen eye-to-eye with John ever since he arrived in the village,” Lawrence Robb, who plays Mack, recently told us.

“I remember that in one of John’s first episodes, Mack tried to attack John with Nate – but John, with his army training, made it clear that that wasn’t going to happen.

“So from the start, Mack has never really warmed to him, and he definitely doesn’t want to see his mate get hurt by someone he feels he can’t trust.”

Emmerdale airs these scenes on Thursday 15 May on ITV1 and ITVX.