Matt Calland and David Stephenson are possible starters for the game, which kicks off at 3.30pm, while David Larder is very doubtful with a collar bone injury. Definitely out are Richard Agar, Damian Ball and Joe Berry. Casey Mayberry is still a couple of weeks away from full fitness, and Brendan O'Meara was having a run out with the A team on Thursday night.

Hornets fans who are travelling to Ashton United's ground at Hurst Cross on Sunday have been assured that parking close to the ground isn't as horrendous as they might think. Media manager for the Oldham club Nigel Marland said: "We had a crowd of 1,700 for the Huddersfield game and parking around the ground was fine." Nigel also suggested the best route to the ground is through Milnrow, Newhey and Shaw.

Meanwhile Oldham boss John Harbin has put trialist forwards Ryan Staziker and Steven Brown on stand-by for Sunday’s game.

In a surprise move, Harbin has told 21-year-old Staziker and 18-year-old Brown they could be thrown in at the deep end.

Both played well in the Alliance team’s 52-6 at Batley on Saturday and they followed up with more eye-catching display when the reserves beat Hornets 22-21 in a Manor Park thriller on Thursday night.

Said Harbin “I can’t name a senior side yet because players are queuing up for fitness checks. But Brown and Staziker are on red alert.

“They know either one of them or both, could get their big chance depending on the medical role call.”

Gavin Dodd, Anthony Gibbons, Steve Molloy and Jason Clegg, all of whom have been having treatment, will have to prove their fitness before a 21-man squad is cut to 17.

He will also need to establish that Neil Roden, Andy Proctor, Danny Guest, Brown and Staziker came through Thursday's Alliance, match without delayed reaction.

Roden, out for five weeks with a throat infection, wasn’t down to play until Anthony Murray pulled out because of illness. He stepped into the breach and did enough to post a claim for a quick recall at senior level.

Harbin’s biggest decision will be his choice - from Gareth Barber, John Braddish, Keith Brennan and Roden - of his two half-backs, plus another for the bench.

Oldham (from): Dodd, Sibson, Campbell, A Gibbons, Goddard, McNicholas, Barber, Braddish, Brennan, Roden, Molloy, Hough, Clegg, Norton, Henare, D Gibbons, Proctor, Doran, Guest, Brown, Staziker.

Hornets (from): Owen, Cooper, Higgins, O’Meara, Wood, Calland, McHugh, Ayres, Tawhai, Watson, Rogers, Stephenson, Pachniuk, Bunce, Larder, Bunyan, Smith, Sinfield, Davidson, Long.