ROCHDALE HORNETS v DEWSBURY RAMS

ROCKY Rochdale, with three defeats in a row, face the prospect of another reversal at the hands of Dewsbury.

Coach Martin Hall is steering clear of making changes to his side which he feels is not yet out of the top four equation.

"We just need to consolidate our performances by tightening up on our defence,'' said Hall.

With David Stephenson carrying a leg injury and Casey Mayberry not quite ready to return, Hornets could well name an unchanged line-up from that which lost at Featherstone.

Dewsbury have Brad Hepi in the starting blocks ready to return, but coach Andy Fisher has not yet declared himself fit to play.

"I may need another week's training yet,'' said Fisher, who will give winger Craig Miles another run following his bright debut which brought a brace of tries, while Danny Brough should continue at hooker for the injured Andy Speak, even though Speak has declared himself fit again.

BATLEY BULLDOGS v FEATHEERSTONE ROVERS

BATTLING Batley take up the cudgel once again and this time it's their aim to tear a strip off high-fliers Featherstone.

Bulldogs coach Paul Storey, delighted with his sides recent form, believes they can achieve that goal.

"It's a top game for us, but I think we are prepared for it,'' said Storey, who adds utility back Chris Hough and ex-York and Sheffield Eagles prop Steve Hill to his squad.

Hough comes in for Mark Cass, who is unavailable, while Hill returns from a bout of sickness which forced him out of the game against Keighley at short notice.

"Featherstone will be a tough nut to crack, because Andy Kelly has got them ticking again, but if our home fans get behind us we believe there is every chance that we can make it seven wins on the trot,'' said Storey.

Featherstone, for their part, will be without former Rochdale and Widnes halfback Richard Agar, who suffered a badly broken nose against his former club last week.

Winger Jamie Stokes will undertake a fitness test, but should make the kick-off.

"Maybe we caught Rochdale at the right time, but the turning point came when we scored three tries in seven minutes,'' said a buoyed Kelly.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v HULL KR

THE Cougars welcome back ex-Sheffield forward Lee Patterson for the home game against Hull KR.

Patterson is currently on trial with Keighley and returns from working abroad for the past three months.

"Lee could well be a good signing for us, provided he comes through the next few weeks. I rate him as a very good prospect,'' said Keighley coach Gary Moorby, who may add Paul Ashton to his squad after the ex-Rochdale halfback knuckled down to the job of training again following a period of unrest.

"I have always said that Paul will do a good job for us. We have had a heart to heart talk and he has shown that he is prepared to get back in the squad again,'' said Moorby.

The Robins have Alasdair McLarron, Ricjie Hayes, and Mark Schutlz returning from injury to a side that must win in order to pull back some of the deficit on the teams above them in the division.

Coach Gary Wilkinson, aware of the dangers of losing, will take stock of last week's better performance against basement club Gateshead, before naming his starting line-up.

"We desperately need to win at Keighley,'' admitted Wilkinson, who could give another chance to ex-Bradford teenager Adam Sullivan following his bright debut.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v BARROW RAIDERS

DRAGONS prop Jamie Fielden will miss the match against Barrow and the rest of the season after being found to have a cruciate ligament problem which forces him to have a knee operation.

And coach St John Ellis, delighted with his team's second win over Workington in the space of two weeks, may need to find a replacement kicker for Johnny Woodcock, if he fails a late fitness test on a damaged hip.

Woodcock is having daily treatment in order to get him fit for the Barrow match and Ellis is fairly confident that he will make it.

Barrow, who took another hop, skip and a jump up the Northern Ford Premiership ladder in beating neighbours Whitehaven in mid-week, will run a fitness check on Geoff Luxon (damaged cheekbone), Tiu Like (knee), Paul Salmon (foot) and Dave Clark (hip) before coach Cameron Bell can name his side.

LEIGH CENTURIONS v WHITEHAVEN

THE Centurions have run into more injury problems ahead of their home game against Whitehaven.

Change prop Chris Morley suffered a broken hand in the win at Oldham and will be out for at least six weeks, while ex-Hunslet halfback Willie Swann has a damaged knee and prop Vila Matautia has a hamstring problem.

"It's a test of our strength of character at the moment,'' said coach Paul Terzis, who brings in Paul Rowley and teenager forward Anthony Blackwood as two of the replacement players.

Whitehaven, battered and bruised from two defeats in the space of four days, must find some way of patching up the injured before Sunday.

Coach Paul Cullen went into the Barrow match without10 of his regular first team squad and suffered another three injuries into the bargain.

Prop Mark Cox has a head injury; Graham Morton (hamstring) and Chris McKinney (groin) and all three are extremely doubtful to play at Hilton Park.

"It's a difficult time for us at the moment. The higher you climb, the harder you fall, but we have not given up hope yet of finishing in the top six,'' said a positive Cullen.

GATESHEAD THUNDER v SWINTON LIONS

GATESHEAD will be without hooker Chris Fletcher, leaving the gate open for Craig Fisher to switch into the pack and Chris Kendra to make his home debut against Swinton.

The fixture has been changed to a home game for Gateshead at Swinton's request and Thunder could well make that advantage tell.

The Lions will be without Jason Johnson, while Rob Gallagher is expected to replace him.

Team boss Phil Veivers, aware of the dangers of defeat, warned his players to take more care: "It's a dangerous match for us in so-much-as we can't afford to relax at any time in the game, because Thunder are still searching for their first win.''

SHEFFIELD EAGLES v WORKINGTON TOWN

THE Eagles will want to build on last week's win over Hunslet, but they face a more challenging task in the shape of tough Cumbrian side Workington.

With both clubs on 20 points and just outside the top nine, this clash could well be the turning point.

And, such is the importance of this game that Eagles team boss Mark Aston could well make his first appearance of the season.

Sheffield have Neil Kite (hand) and Andy Brent (knee) seeking medical treatment, while Workington, desperate to avoid their fourth defeat in a row, expect to have Stuart Hoyles and top winger Graeme Lewthwaite in action again after missing the Doncaster game.

CHORLEY LYNX v OLDHAM

CHORLEY wait on the fitness of fullback Mike Watts before coach Graeme West can name his line-up to face Oldham.

Watts picked up a neck injury against Dewsbury, so Paul Willcox stands by, but West is also hoping to have a couple of on-loan players in his squad.

"I'm just searching round trying to bolster the squad a bit. It's going to be a very tough game against Oldham, so we need to apply ourselves better than we did against Dewsbury,'' said West.

Oldham, who almost brought Leigh to their knees at Hurst Cross last weekend, will run a check on John Braddish and Bryan Henare, before new coach Steve Molloy decides on his line-up.