FRIDAY

SHEFFIELD EAGLES v SWINTON LIONS

JOINT league pacesetters Sheffield Eagles could be hard-pressed to keep their unbeaten National League Two record intact against visitors Swinton Lions.

That's the firm impression coach Mark Aston has of Friday night's game at the Don Valley Stadium.

"We could be on the end of a back-lash from Swinton's defeat at the hands of Gateshead and that worries me,'' admitted Aston, who will run fitness checks on prop Jack Howieson and centre Greg Hurst ahead of the game.

"It's important that we get such as Richard Goddard, Guy Adams and Damien Whitter back to full fitness as soon as possible if we are to maintain our current position,'' said Aston.

Three wins ain a row has been an exceptionally good start for the Eagles, whereas Swinton slipped up badly last week.

"It's time to rise to the occasion,'' was coach Peter Roe's rallying call at training this week. But with Phil Hassan struggling to win his fitness race and Phil Cushion still on the injured list, Roe could find he may be short on experience in the pack, even though he will have new signing Lee Hansen to back him up.

NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE

SATURDAY

SALFORD CITY REDS v OLDHAM

THE Reds are feeling the after-effects of their first National League One defeat of the season and could struggle to have their first choice front row in action against Oldham on Saturday.

Props Andy Coley and Neil Baynes, plus hooker Malcolm Alker are all in need of physiotherapy, leaving coach Karl Harrison to consider promoting two of his promising youngsters from the Under 21s.

"We are down in numbers at the moment, so it's not looking too good. But that is the sort of pressure that has got to be taken on. It was always going to be difficult at Featherstone, but they turned in the better performance on the day,'' conceded Harrison.

Second row forward Danny Barton and winger Danny O'Reagan are two possible call ups for Salford, with Gareth Haggerty, Dave Highton or Neil Lowe ready to step up off the bench.

Oldham could have ex-Salford and Barrow centre Iain Marsh and Jon Goddard fit for action, which eases some of the pressure for coach Steve Molloy, who was forced to play second row forward Lee Doran in his back division against Dewsbury.

"I was pleased with the experiment of playing Lee in the centre, but I won't e forcing him into that position every week,'' said Molloy, who could well hve Will Cowell and Martin McLoughlin also in line for a recall.

"We are waiting on a specialists report on Iain Marsh and would hope that it is good news. He desperately wants to play against Salford,'' said Molloy.

Keith Brennan (shoulder) and Neil Roden (ankle) are also in need of treatment ahead of the game.

SUNDAY

DEWSBURY RAMS v DONCASTER DRAGONS

RAMS boss Andy Fisher is poised to welcome the return of experienced forward Richard Slater for the National League One clash with Doncaster.

"We looked frail in the forwards and missed Frank Watene's strength up front against Oldham. That's why it's important that we get Richard back into action,'' revealed Fisher, who could also have prop Carl Sayer ready to return from injury.

Slater will thus make his first League appearance for the Rams, while Fisher debates the possibility of other changes too.

Ryan Hardy and Ian Kirke are on the fringe, while Graham Law's proposed move may not go through in time for him to play against the Dragons.

Pointless Doncaster will run checks on prop Maea David and utility back Craig Horne, but coach St John Ellis is confident that both will be passed fit to play.

"This is a big game and one that I feel we could get a result from. But we need to work harder in defence,'' said Ellis, who could possibly have an overseas player on register soon to fill the gap left by Marvin Golden's move to Widnes Vikings.

"It's a distinct possibility that he will be with us by the weekend,'' said Ellis.

LEIGH CENTURIONS v FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

NATIONAL One league leaders Leigh are pruning their feathers in readiness for the dual with Featherstone at Hilton Park.

Having seen Rovers end Salford's unbeaten run and keen to retain their 100 per cent league record, the Centurions will be "sharpening their implements of war'' in the run-up to the clash.

"That was an outstanding win by Featherstone, but we always felt that Salford were not invincible. And that gives us the heart to go forward,'' said Leigh coach Paul Terzis, despite being rocked by the resignation of assistant coach John Pendlebury this week.

"I can only admire John's decision. He felt it was better to move on because we don't have an Academy side to deal with now, but he could quite easily have stayed on,'' said Terzis.

With wingers Leroy Rivett and Alan Hadcroft fit again and added to his squad, Terzis is confident that Leigh can pick up the points from this Arriva Trains Cup quarter final dress rehearsal.

Featherstone, buoyed by their Salford scalp, have no injury worries ahead of the match, apart from key half-back Richard Agar.

And coach Andy Kelly feels that it may be several more weeks yet before Agar is fit.

"He has a back problem and that is affecting his hamstring injury, so until we can sort that out, Richard may be a while yet before he plays again,'' said Kelly, whose signing of ex-Huddersfield centre Chris Langley could turn out to be a master-stroke.

"Chris had a fine debut against Salford and that was very pleasing,'' said Kelly.

HULL KR v BATLEY BULLDOGS

THE Robins face a race against time to get yet scrum half Latham Tawhai fit to face Batley at Craven Park on Sunday (kick-off 6.00).

With halfbacks Paul Parker and Chris Stephenson both doubtful, coach Steve Linnane is desperate to have Tawhai back in harness.

"We need some craft at half-back so Latham's return would be a big boost,'' admitted Linnane, who could also have Nick Pinkney and Lynton Stott in his squad, provided they pass late fitness tests.

The Bulldogs will be without Mark Toohey and Chris North, but coach Paul Storey should have the reliable David Rourke, Tony Gibbons and Chris Spurr to add to his squad to travel.

"It will be a tough call at Hull so we need to be as strong as possible in the pack,'' said Storey.

With both clubs due to meet again in the Arriva Trains Cup quarter-finals next week, this clash will give a major insight as to who will make the next step.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO

HUNSLET HAWKS v GATESHEAD THUNDER

THE Hawks have lost inspirational hooker Jon Liddell for at least four weeks with a broken hand, but coach Roy Sampson had the foresight to make a couple of late signings.

He picked up Steve Doherty from Rochdale and signed local player David Brook ahead of last week's game against Workington and both players are in the squad to play Gateshead on Sunday.

Doherty made his last-minute debut against Workington, which turned out to be a key move, because it allowed Sampson to use match-winner Phil Hasty for a limited spell.

Hasty looks set to start against Thunder, with Craig Ibbotson and Mick Coyle also in the squad after returning from holidays. And that should pep up Hunslet's defences after they leaked 38 points in the win over Workington.

But Andy Bastow and Gareth Naylor are still on the long-term injury list.

Gateshead, fresh from their shock result over Swinton, could be minus talented centre Damien Reed, who incidentally had a spell with Hunslet last season. Reed, who has scored 12 tries in eight games for Thunder picked up a calf injury and is rated very doubtful by coach Paul Fletcher, who is also running a check on prop Yusuf Sozi, forward Jannan Billings and hooker Scott MacDougall.

"I was very proud of the players after the Swinton win and delighted with the way our off-the-field progress is going,'' said Fletcher, who praised his assistant Martin Flynn's contribution.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v YORK CITY KNIGHTS

BEWARE the wounded Knight, was Keighley coach Gary Moorby's warning to his players ahead of the home game with York at Cougar Park.

"I have the greatest respect for Steve Ferres and Paul Broadbent at York, so I am warning the players to expect a tough ride on Sunday,'' said Moorby.

Whose side heads the division, alongside Sheffield Eagles.

But with prop Chris Hannah free from his one-match ban and no injury worries from the narrow win at Chorley, Moorby can plan round a full strength side.

Not so York, whose pride was severely dented by the 16-16 draw with newcomers London Skolars.

Coach Broadbent fired some sharp words in the direction of his players afterwards and threatened probable changes to face Keighley.

"There will be some shuffling about in the side, but I was pleased with new signing Danny Brough's contribution,'' said Broadbent.

WORKINGTON TOWN v CHORLEY LYNX

Workington could have the bonus of naming an unchanged side for the first time this season against Chorley.

With no apparent injuries from the high-scoring game against Hunslet, stand-in coach Gary Charlton should be able to plan a better strategy.

"We will see how the training sessions go before the match, but we don't foresee any changes,'' said Football Director Dave Smith, who defused rumours that both Kevin Hetherington and Ricky Wright have quit the club.

"I don't want to say too much about their situations except that I anticipate both players will be back playing for Workington sometime in the near future,'' said Smith.

Chorley, however, are expected to parade new signings Jamie Stenhouse and Chris Newall.

Ex-Swinton winger Stenhouse, switched from Whitehaven to Chorley this week after finding it difficult to attend training with the Cumbrian side, while former Rochdale and Swinton forward Newall has been playing rugby union.

Delighted coach Darren Abram feels he is close to completing his jigsaw puzzle in order to bring his side into shape, albeit that he has released former Leigh player Safraz Patel in the process.

Dave Whittle could also return from injury, while Mark McCully may need a fitness test.

With the scores at one-apiece so far this season, Chorley hope to break their duck, but determined Workington will be in no mood to allow them any advantage.

LONDON SKOLARS v BARROW RAIDERS

SKOLARS' coach Mark Croston welcomes back props Glen Osborne and Rubert Jonker for their home game against Barrow Raiders.

And that comes on the back of London's first point of the new league season from the game at York last week.

"It was a good performance all round from the players, but we could have taken both points,'' said Croston, who is anxious for the rub of the green to go their way.

"We are conceding a big penalty count against us every match and I don't know why,'' puzzled Croston, who could be without stand off Cory Bennett and winger Mario Du Toit for the Barrow game.

The Raiders have key scrum half Chris Archer making his return following a six-week lay-off with a broken hand, while tough prop Geoff Luxon could also be in the side to travel.

But fullback Craig Bower and forward James Stainton are extremely doubtful, according to coach Cameron Bell, who feels that the return of Archer has come "just in the nick of time'' to inspire his side again.