DEWSBURY RAMS v ROCHDALE HORNETS

ANY doubts that Dewsbury can return to the top echelon of the Northern Ford Premiership could be laid to rest when they entertain title contenders Rochdale Hornets on Sunday.

The Rams are moving back into the reckoning and are just outside the top eight and player coach Andy Fisher believes the next four weeks will be crucial for the club, especially after learning that the club's chief executive John Harbin was named as the new coach at Oldham.

"We have had some difficult times at Dewsbury in the last 12 months, but I believe we are moving in the right direction. I had a long chat with John and he knows that we will miss his expertise at Dewsbury,'' said Fisher.

And Fisher should be able to name his strongest side yet, with Richard Slater, Jim Leatham back in the frame. The only doubt surrounds the fitness of winger Michael Wainwright, but if he fails a late test George Mack will retain his place on the wing.

Hornets, with six former Dewsbury players among their possible selection, expect to have their strongest side on view, providing that wingers Casey Mayberry and Marlon Billy and centre Brendan O'Meara recover from their niggling injuries.

Richard Agar, will return after missing the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup win over amateurs Farnworth, at the expense of Danny Wood, despite Wood landing six goals and collecting two tries in the victory.

It's Rochdale chairman Ray Taylor's first official outing as the new Rugby Football League president and he will be a happy man should Hornets claim their sixth win of the season.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v WHITEHAVEN

THERE will be no quarter asked or given when Featherstone take on pace-making Cumbrian side Whitehaven at the Lionheart Stadium.

But Rovers may have to find a replacement front row for Stuart Dickens and Ian Tonks, who were both injured in the Cup win at Gateshead.

Dickens is the worst effected for he had his damaged wrist put in plaster and will not know the results of the damage for at least ten days. Ex-Castleford prop Tonks has a groin injury and their absence could pave the way for either Danny Evans or Gavin Morgan to grab a front row jersey.

Joint league leaders Whitehaven will check on prop Phil Sherwin and winger Mark Wallace (groin) before coach Paul Cullen names his line-up, but the return of Aaron Lester, Wesley Wilson, Leigh Smith and Chris McKinney should ease his selection problems.

But Cullen is well aware of the fact that he will need a strong side at Featherstone: "Jamie Rooney calls the shots for them and he is a very good player and Jamie Stokes is also a top try scorer, so they will have plenty of ammunition to throw at us,'' warned Cullen.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v BATLEY BULLDOGS

DRAGONS boss St John Ellis will check on prop Maea David (knee); utility back Chris Ross (hamstring) and winger Richard Baker (neck) before he can safely name his line-up to face Batley.

All three picked up their injuries in the tough Challenge Cup encounter at Castleford where the local Lock Lane side put Doncaster through the mill in their Jungle cup clash.

But winger Jason Lee could return from a finger operation, while Ellis has youngsters Jonny Woodcock, Chris Evans, Wayne Green and Dan Coult on standby.

The Bulldogs have their fare share of injuries too, but David Rourke, Dean Lawford and Jeremy Dyson are among the hopefuls of a quick return, while bustling prop Steve Molloy is added to coach Paul Storey's squad.

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS v HUNSLET HAWKS

IF current form is anything to go by, then Huddersfield should have little difficulty in notching their seventh NFP win of the season over visitors Hunslet.

Team boss Tony Smith anticipates being able to name an almost full strength side, apart from loose forward Steve McNamara and scrum half Mark Moxon.

McNamara has recurring muscle strain, while Moxon is still recovering from a damaged jaw, which leaves Smith with the opportunity to bring back row forward Matt Turner in for his first game of the season, while leaving the impressive Chris Thorman with the No 7 jersey.

"Unless anything happens between now and Sunday to make me change my mind about leaving Steve out of the team I think it would be wise for him to rest the injury,'' said Smith.

The Hawks, with two wins on the trot may be forced to leave out new signing Nathan Pincher (shoulder) and hand either Andy Atha or Dave Jessey his role in the pack.

Bright young prop Ben Skerrett (flu) and Andy Wray (hamstring) are also two major doubts for coach Roy Sampson.

SHEFFIELD EAGES v BARROW RAIDERS

THE Eagles are set to protect their unbeaten home record, but coach Mark Aston may have to face Barrow Raiders without the services of key forward Richard Goddard.

A torn calf muscle will prevent Goddard from playing this weekend and it could also lay him low for a further two weeks, according to Aston.

"It's a nasty injury and we are not sure how long Richard will be out of action,'' said Aston, who could also be minus the talented Andy Brent, who has a rib cartilage injury.

With utility back Ian Brown's injury not responding to treatment, Aston will look to George Rayner, Jack Howieson and maybe Billy Kershaw to make their presence felt.

The Raiders, whose big pack is the key to their success this season, will check on prop Ian Rawlinson and "Six Million Dollar Man'' Tau Liku ahead of Sunday's clash.

Coach Cameron Bell feels that Liku will make the line-up, but he is unsure about Rawlinson.

WORKINGTON TOWN v OLDHAM

PROP Ricky Wright and loose forward Gary Charlton are both facing late fitness tests as Workington prepare for the arrival of a rather disjointed Oldham.

Coach Gary Murdock also has problems with the fitness of hooker Owen Williamson and prop Lokeni Savelio, while playmaker Tane Manihera is in need of daily treatment for a leg injury.

Oldham, who have been in turmoil since the departure of coach Mike Ford, hope that the arrival of ex-Wakefield boss John Harbin will calm their waters.

Rumours of player absenteeism; a small squad, plus the untimely move from Boundary Park to Ashton United have left Oldham in turmoil and caretaker coach Mark Knight has done exceptionally well to keep matters in check.

"We had a clean bill of health from our Cup game against West Hull and that is a bonus for the club,'' said Knight, who may be forced to consider his options if chairman Chris Hamilton decides against offering him the job as Harbin's assistant.

YORK WASPS v LEIGH CENTURIONS

HOSTS York, who broke their 25-match drought by beating amateurs Milford Marlins in the Cup last week, can anticipate a rough ride when Leigh arrive on Sunday.

The Lancashire side will not hold back in their efforts to get back into the title race and must see the Wasps as another step up the ladder.

Although host coach Leo Epifania has no injury problems to contend with, his first choice side may find it extremely difficult to contain the Centurions, whose march into York and back again with the spoils should be a foregone conclusion.

The Leigh outfit have big guns ex-St Helens prop Vila Matuatia, centre Jon Roper, hooker Paul Rowley and second rower Dave Bradbury ready to resume again, but Dave Ingram will miss out with a hamstring injury.

GATESHEAD THUNDER v SWINTON LIONS

BOTH Gateshead and Swinton have yet to pick up their first win of the season, but Thunder have a head start with one point from an earlier draw with Featherstone.

"This is an important game for both clubs. We want to kick-start our season again after the disappointment of going out of the Cup, while Swinton will want to break their duck,'' said Gateshead coach Andy Kelly.

He anticipates naming the side that lost to Featherstone last week, but he is still unsettled after losing second row forward Ian Hughes.

"Ian's decision to quit playing has upset us all, but there is no reason for that to end there. The door is wide open if he wants to reconsider the position,'' said Kelly.

Swinton will decide on their line-up on Saturday, once coach Tony Humphries has checked out his players following their midweek Cup clash with amateurs Skirlaugh, but he has high hopes that on-loan Salford City Reds prop Paul Southern will be in his line-up.

CHORLEY LYNX v HULL KR

LYNX boss Graeme West will have prop Lee Prest, second rower Ian Bellamy and scrum half John Duffy at his disposal for the home game against high fliers Hull KR.

All three have declared their fitness, along with Ian Talbot and Mike Prescott, which gives West a strong hand to play for this game.

The Robins, whose latest signing Dane Dorahy has been a major boost for the club, will not decide their line-up until coach Gary Wilkinson has surveyed the scene following their tension-packed mid-week Cup clash with top Cumbrian amateur side Ellenborough Rangers at Derwent Park.