WHITEHAVEN v ROCHDALE HORNETS

EXPERIENCED forward Matt Sturm will make his bow for Whitehaven against championship contenders Rochdale.

Sturm arrives at the Recreation Ground on a month’s loan from Warrington Wolves and could fill the space left by loose forward Gary Purdham, who is one of four major doubts for coach Steve McCormack.

The ex-Rochdale and Workington forward, who can fill any position in the pack, according to McCormack, should boost Whitehaven’s failing spirits.

“We are not playing well at the moment and need a lift from somewhere,’’ said McCormack, who has a full back division on the injured list and is searching for another loan player ahead of the game.

Rochdale, however, were struck a disastrous blow when talented fullback Paul Owen was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign leaving Hornets' boss Martin Hall with a huge void to fill.

Hall has already had a bid to swap prop Andy Grundy to Swinton for fullback Wayne English turned down by the Lions , and may well hand the No 1 jersey to either Warren Ayres, Chris Irwin or Wayne McHugh.

“I have had a long association with the game and never met a nicer person than Paul. It’s tragic what has happen,’’ said Hall, who believes the loss of Owen will have a big effect on his side’s chances of reaching the Grand Final in October.

Matt Leigh is back from injury to boost the pack, while Wes Rogers’ return from Swinton on-loan could hand Hall another alternative on the bench.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v LEIGH CENTURIONS

HOSTS Featherstone aim to spike Leigh’s run of form at Post Office Road on Sunday, but they may be forced to do so without three key players.

Bright young prop Andy Bailey aggravated a back injury in the defeat at Salford and the injury needs checking out, while tough centre Ian Brown has been diagnosed with a chipped bone in his ankle.

Chris Langley has also undergone surgery to clear up a cartilage problem.

“It’s a mixture of injuries which will force the changes in the side, but if we can perform anything like I know we can, then we could well take the points off Leigh,’’ said confident team boss Andy Kelly, who has Carl Briggs returning from an injured bicep.

Briggs will probably take over at centre for Brown, but Kelly must find a replacement in the second row for Bailey and that may need some inspired thinking.

“We want to protest our home record, but this will be our biggest test since the Salford win,’’ said Kelly.

Leigh are without the ubiquitous Paul Rowley, who has a one-match suspension, while an ankle injury keeps halfback Willie Swann out of the limelight. But with Lee Sanderson having recovered from a thigh strain and John Duffy returning from a knee injury, they will be Paul Terzis’ automatic replacements.

Leigh’s latest capture from Halifax Danny Halliwell, however, will not make his debut for another week, according to Terzis. “He needs time to settle in’’ said Terzis of the young centre, who started his days with Leigh’s academy side.

OLDHAM v SALFORD CITY REDS

SCRUM HALF Keith Brennan is Oldham’s biggest worry ahead of their home game with National League One pacesetters Salford.

Brennan picked an ankle injury in Oldham’s third win in a row, their first win at Dewsbury in 15 years, and is extremely doubtful according to player coach Steve Molloy.

Gareth Barber will probably move off the bench to cover for Brennan, with Molloy likely to promote either Joe McNicholas, Ryan Staziker or Gavin Johnson into the vacant replacement spot. With centre Paul Anderson due to see a specialist over his bicep injury, he is ruled out until the diagnosis is confirmed.

The retirement of Paul Norton because of a recurring neck injury was another massive blow for Oldham too, but Molloy could well make room for him in his backroom staff.

“Our confidence has grown following our third win on the trot, so I would expect to give Salford a tough ride,’’ said Molloy.

Salford have their new signing Martin Moana from Halifax in their 19-man squad, but coach Karl Harrison is still unsure about handing the ex-Doncaster stand-off turned loose forward his debut call.

“Martin trained with the players on Tuesday and he is definitely in the 19, but I’m not too sure whether he will make the final squad,’’ said Harrison who fears that Oldham could prove to be the proverbial banana skin.

“They are a much-improved side to that which we blew away a few weeks ago, so I expect a tough contest,’’ said Harrison.

BATLEY BULLDOGS v HULL KINGSTON ROVERS

WORRIED coach Paul Storey could well turn frowns to smiles should his side topple Hull KR at Mount Pleasant.

“We had a good second half at Leigh last week and gave them a bit of a scare, which shows we can score the points when needed. But our defence has let us down recently,’’ said Storey, who is desperate to strengthen his side for the run-in to the play-offs.

Batley have missed the tackle power of second row forward David Rourke since he began a 13-week training course with the West Yorkshire Fire Service and Storey would relish his return.

“David still has a few weeks to go before he can be released to play for us,’’ said Storey, who names Paul Harrison and Craig Lingard as two possible changes to his line-up.

Prop Joe Berry, however, has been struck down by a virus that could rule him out of contention. The Robins will be minus loose forward Dean Busby (shoulder) and centre Nick Pinkney (groin) for their trip to Batley.

But new signing Paul Mansson from Doncaster Dragons is expected to continue his excellent halfback combination with Latham Tawhai, which could well prove to be the key to their success.

Coach Steve Linnane is said to be “extremely happy’’ with Mansson’s signing:

“He made a big impact in our win over Whitehaven, as did several other players,’’ said Linnane.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v DEWSBURY RAMS

DRAGONS team boss St John Ellis believes his swoop for Graham Holroyd as replacement for Paul Mansson will prove a key signing ahead of their home game with local rivals Dewsbury.

“He’s a better all round player and has played at a higher level,’’ said Ellis, who will be without winger Martin Sykes for at least six weeks after he suffered a depressed cheekbone against Rochdale.

Either Craig Horne or Alex Muff will take over on the right wing. “This is a must win game for us if we are to get into the top six,’’ said Ellis.

The Rams, desperate to prise their way off the bottom of the division will run a fitness check on loose forward Graham Law’s shoulder injury before coach Andy Fisher names his side.

“I think we will be unchanged,’’ said Fisher, who aims to retain a settled side in the hope of winning four of their remaining six games.

“If we don’t beat Doncaster on Sunday, then we are in deep trouble, but Hull KR could do us a big favour if they beat Batley,’’ said relegation-threatened Dewsbury boss Fisher.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO

CHORLEY LYNX v SWINTON LIONS

IN-FORM side Chorley welcome prop Simon Smith back for the derby game against Swinton.

Coach Darren Abram, however, will run checks on Martin Roden, Dave Ingram and Tim Street before making his final selection.

“Swinton have beaten us twice this season, once in the Powergen Challenge Cup and once in the National League, so this is our chance to make amends,’’ said Abram, who also has concerns over the fitness of Mike Redford (shoulder) and Chris Newall (back).

Swinton have doubts about Phil Hassan’s fitness, while scrum half Chris Hough (eye infection), Peter Cannon and Kris Smith (both thighs) and Rob Russell (ankle) are all cause for concern for coach Peter Roe.

Aussie prop Danny Tyres is hoping for the go-ahead to play following his nose operation, but fellow front row forward Wes Rogers has returned to Rochdale following his loan spell.

“Chorley are a much-improved side theses days, so I would have preferred to have gone to their place with a full side on duty,’’ said Roe.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v HUNSLET HAWKS

THE Cougars have pack leader Phil Stephenson back from a three-match suspension and his return could well tip the scales against Hunslet.

Team boss Gary Moorby is delighted to have Stephenson available again, while giant Kiwi forward Scott Parkin could make his debut for Keighley after proving his fitness this week.

“Scott is in line for a place in the 17 and we feel he could play,’’ said Moorby, who will check out Lee Patterson’s ankle and Richard Mervill’s knee problems before naming his line-up.

The Hawks, who have lost three games on the trot, will be without fullback Richard Baker with a damaged shoulder, which could force coach Roy Sampson to switch George Rayner and hand a rugby union trialist winger his debut game, unless Gareth Brain recovers from his hamstring injury.

“We are really struggling for backs at the moment,’’ said Sampson, who is also without loose forward Danny Fearon for a possible two-week span with an ankle injury.

WORKINGTON TOWN v BARROW RAIDERS

TOWN will hand scrum half Neil Alexander the key role after releasing Craig Fisher ahead of the home game with neighbours Barrow. Coach Billy McGinty shocked his players by giving ex-Gateshead hooker-cum halfback Fisher the push stating:

“I have been very disappointed with Craig’s attitude in recent games and felt he must go. We only want players who are keen to play for Workington,’’ said McGinty, who could follow that with more “dismissals’’.

But such as James Robinson, Anthony Horton and Scott Chilton have all impressed McGinty with their commitment since they broke into the Workington side.

Barrow have doubts with the fitness of Dave Clark (heel/ankle), Jamie Smith (ankle), Andy Henderson (knee) and Chris Archer (arm), forcing coach Cameron Bell to play the waiting game.

“Both Clark and Smith are extremely doubtful, while I can only hope that Henderson and Archer recover in time,’’ said Bell who will call on Paul Evans as one of the replacements.

GATESHEAD THUNDER v YORK CITY KNIGHTS
NEW signing Dave Jessey is expected to make his bow for Gateshead against the City Knights.

Thunder boss Paul Fletcher has got the ex-Hunslet second row forward on loan from Tetley's Super League side Castleford Tigers until the end of the season and that gives Gateashead a tad more strength in depth, along with the signing of Great Britain Lions Under 19s prop forward Scott Houston.

Both will figure in coach Fletcher’s plans as he plots to finish the season with a flurry of wins.

“We have six games left but we hope to dent a few clubs ideas of finishing in the top six during that time,’’ said Fletcher.

York are missing ex-Dewsbury and Sheffield halfback Scott Rhodes, who picked up a knee injury in the defeat against the Eagles. Graeme Hallas or Mark Cain will take over at six, unless coach Paul Broadbent decides to switch Trevor Krause from loose forward.

“We have a few options to choose from, so there is no need to panic,’’ said Broadbent, who will undergo a knee reconstruction next month. Ex-Batley Bulldogs forward Dave Smith could also make the bench, along with on-loan prop Joe Helm.

SHEFFIELD EAGLES v LONDON SKOLARS

HIGH-FLIERS Sheffield are expected to keep their title chase on track against basement club London Skolars.

The Don Valley side must start as hot favourites following their excellent run of form, although coach Mark Aston is keen not to “trip up’’ against the Skolars.

“We are still showing some inexperience in our game plan and that needs to be addressed if we are to make a serious challenge on the top spot,’’ said Aston, who is ready to hand Jordan James his debut game and bring ex-York and Rochdale hooker Darren Robinson into his plans.

“I need to see how both players perform and this could be the opportunity they need,’’ said Aston, who has Richard Goddard available despite finishing the game against York with a broken nose.

London are without Kahu Henare, Brett McCroary, Ronnie Mushiso and Paul Leef, but coach Mark Croston has centre Jake Johnson, back row forward Dave Mossop and prop John Warner returning to boost his squad.

“Sheffield are one of the in-form teams at the moment and will offer a daunting task, but we almost shock league leaders Keighley last week and that could give us the confidence we need,’’ said Croston.