HIGH fliers Featherstone couldn't have a better chance to avenge their defeat at Rochdale last month.

With coach Andy Kelly set to announce a fully fit side, apart from Craig Booth and Robin Jowitt, he should have the upper hand on Rochdale, especially since Rovers scored a big win over Dewsbury last week and Hornets lost at Barrow.

"The players are looking forward to the confrontation and our incentive is to capitalise on Rochdale's recent defeats,'' said Kelly, who will run a spot check on winger Jamie Stokes before settling his line-up.

Hornets could be without David Stephenson for a second week running after he picked up a head injury against Whitehaven, but James Bunyan is poised to return and he could give Rochdale the required steel up front.

"Lionheart Stadium always a difficult place to go to and this is a massive challenge for the players,'' said coach Martin Hall, who has the job of picking up his players from a run of back-to-back defeats.

FRIDAY:

SWINTON LIONS v BARROW RAIDERS

THE Lions spring back into action after a week's fixture break and coach Phil Veivers hopes they can claw their way to victory over Barrow Raiders at Hilton Park.

"It's a tall order, but if the players follow instructions and stick to the game plan, then they stand a chance of claiming the points,'' said Veivers.

With prop Dale Holdstock and halfback Peter Cannon both reporting fit and Rob Gallagher back in the reckoning after injury, Veivers had an added boost by including former Warrington centre Jamie Stenhouse in his squad.

Stenhouse dropped out of the game following a broken leg, but his return via the amateur scene at Warrington-based amateur club Crosfields could be Swinton's gain.

"He's a big strong lad with plenty of experience,'' said Veivers, who needs all the help he can acquire after losing former Widnes forward Alan Shea for the remainder of the season with a serious shoulder injury.

Barrow coach Cameron Bell will run the rule over back row forward Geoff Luxon (calf strain) and Cliff Beverley (knee ligaments). But if neither player pulls through, Bell has other options to choose from.

Local prospect Paul Jones or Gary Winstanley could come in for Beverley, while Phil Atkinson can switch to the back row if needs be.

Barrow's excellent win over Rochdale will put them in good stead, but Swinton could well show their teeth on this occasion.

SUNDAY:

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS v WHITEHAVEN

RUNAWAY Northern Ford Premiership leaders Huddersfield is virtually at full strength for a match which could well have tested their prowess in different circumstances.

Only utility player Matt Walker has a problem with a slight back strain, leaving team boss Tony Smith with plenty of options to choose from.

"Whitehaven are a well coached, big, enthusiastic Cumbrian side who are difficult to beat,'' warned Smith.

His opposite number Paul Cullen, however, has Mark Cox, Dean Vaughan and Mark Wallace all extremely doubtful, while playmaker Leroy Joe begins a three-match suspension.

Prop Warren Stevens also has a recurring neck injury that could keep him on the sidelines.

"Sometimes you've got to pay the price of victory and wins against Rochdale and Leigh don't come much bigger,'' said Cullen, who has Tony Cunningham, Lee Kiddie and Gary Smith on standby.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v BATLEY BULLDOGS

COCK-A-HOOP Cougars will prove a tough nut to crack now that they have found their winning form.

Coach Gary Moorby, delighted with the way they have turned things round at Keighley, feels there is a definite pattern emerging in their game.

"The big thing was our defence against Sheffield and that helped us to turn the corner,'' said Moorby.

But the Cougars will be without influential second row forward Oliver Wilkes, who picked up a three-match suspension this week and Dave Foster will take over from Wilkes, while winger Chris Wainwright may need more treatment on an ankle injury ahead of Sunday's game.

Batley, boosted by their sixth successive win which lifts them into the top nine, will be without Mark Toohey (holiday) and Paul Gleadhill (back injury), but utility player Chris Hough returns from honeymoon to grab a place in coach Paul Storey's squad.

"Beating Hull KR was a big scalp for the players,'' admitted Storey, who has his sights firmly set on retaining a top spot.

OLDHAM v LEIGH CENTURIONS

NEWLY ENTRENCHED coach Steve Molloy will have his work cut out to force Leigh onto the back foot.

Molloy's upgrade following the shock resignation of coach John Harbin, who left to join Oldham Athletic Football Club at the weekend, leaves him with plenty to think about.

But club chairman Christopher Hamilton has no qualms about making Molloy his new coach: "Steve is the right choice as far as I am concerned. Once we knew that John was leaving, we put the question to Steve and asked him to do the job.''

But Hamilton agreed that having to find a second new coach in six months was not an easy task. He said: "We are battle hardened at Oldham, but the response from the players was fantastic when we announced Steve as out new man.''

Leigh boss Paul Terzis, who is not unused to being linked with other clubs, feels that the change could well lift Oldham's spirits.

"Sometimes these things can go either way. It could be an even tougher challenge in the light of what has happened,'' said Terzis.

Leigh have Dave Bradbury out for three weeks with an ankle injury and Jon Duffy doubtful with a thigh strain. Terzis added Welsh international Dave Whittle to the squad that lost narrowly at Whitehaven last weekend.

DEWSBURY RAMS v CHORLEY LYNX

THE Rams welcome back Carl Briggs and possibly Brad Hepi for the visit to Chorley.

But player-coach Andy Fisher is still not ready to return from his double injury blow, while fullback Jamie Benn will have a late fitness check.

Reflecting on the defeat at Featherstone last week, Fisher feels that the Rams are facing their biggest test of character of the season. He said: "The players let themselves down at Featherstone. We took the lead and should have made more of our chances. Individual errors proved our downfall,'' he said.

Chorley have lost forward Lance Hamilton for six weeks through suspension, but utility player Chris Ramsdale is set to return from a broken foot, while Safraz Patel has cleared his four-game ban.

Centre Liam Jones will have a fitness test on his damaged shoulder as coach Graeme West chases his fourth win of the season.

WORKINGTON TOWN v DONCASTER DRAGONS

WORRIED Workington Town player-coach Martin Wood may need to find a replacement for top winger Graeme Lewthwaite, unless there is a dramatic improvement in his foot infection.

"Graeme is our biggest doubt for the return game against Doncaster and that's a big blow,'' admitted Wood, himself sidelined for up to six weeks with a broken thumb.

Ex-Sheffield prop Ricky Wright is available as is Stuart Hoyles, but Lewthwaite's position in the side will be the one that concerns Wood the most.

Doncaster, dazed by the double blow of having Dale Cardoza and coach St John Ellis banned by the RFL for six and four games respectively are also without prop Jamie Fielden, who needs to see a specialist over a knee injury.

Craig Lawton comes back into the selection panel, as does Paddy Handley and Dean Colton, while teenager Tom Buckingham could also get a recall.

HULL KR v GATESHEAD THUNDER

ROBINS coach Gary Wilkinson admits he is looking down both barrels of a shotgun following clear the air talks at Hull KR.

Wilkinson was called into a board meeting on Monday night to explain the recent run of defeats that have left Hull KR on the fringe of a top nine place.

"We have sorted matters out and as far as I am concerned I am here at least until the end of the season,'' revealed Wilkinson, whose fall from the heights started with defeat to Huddersfield in the Buddies Cup Final at Featherstone.

But with winger Alex Godfrey available after missing the latest defeat at Batley and Jamie Bovill fully recovered from an ankle injury, Wilkinson should have more firepower to his elbow.

Gateshead will have new signing Craig Fisher from Workington along with on-loan forwards Clint Brown and James Mackay in coach Paul Fletcher's plans, but centre Tom Lawrenson may need a late check on his injury.

HUNSLET HAWKS v SHEFFIELD EAGLES

HAWKS boss Roy Sampson, buoyed by the arrival of new signing Phil Hasty from East Leeds and Ricky Helliwell on loan from Featherstone could pull off his third win of the season.

Second row forward Craig Ibbetson is his main worry with a recurring shoulder injury, but Neil Lee's return from injury could offset that problem

"We were very patchy in parts against Oldham, but when we did compete we looked a good side,'' said Sampson, who would be delighted to find another back in the same mould as Bryn Powell.

The ex-Hunslet Warriors winger keeps running in the tries and has 14 to his credit this season. Not bad for a player in a side second from the bottom of the table.

The Eagles, having fallen from grace after finding themselves in fifth spot four weeks ago, must deliver the goods or find themselves facing the wrath of coach Mark Aston yet again.

He was "disgusted'' at the way Sheffield failed to compete against Keighley last weekend and promised a major shake-up.

"I would like to make wholesale changes, but this might not be the time to do it,'' agreed Aston, who has still not ruled himself out from making a comeback, although "not this weekend''.

Mick Stringer, Lee Tasler, Jack Howieson, Craig Brown and Jon Breakingbury could be the immediate changes made by Aston, with more to follow if Sheffield fail again.