Apologies for the early appearance of Sunday's coming, but as work's packing me off on the world's dullest seminar tomorrow, it's the only chance I have to post the copy.

This Sunday sees a clash between two teams with something to prove to their fans and to themselves. As Hornets were throwing away chances to go down at Whitehaven, Barrow were taking the sharp-end of a good old fashioned 50-point tonking at Hull KR.

Wily old campaigner Cameron Bell will want his top nine challenge back on the rails as soon as possible, whilst Hally will want a win to regain the momentum lost in last week's defeat.

At the heart of the Barrow side are half backs ex-Leigh centurian Radney Bowker and drop-goal exponent Darren Holt. Bowker, who played against Brendan O'Meara in the 2000 NFP Grand Final, is first mate to Holt who steers the Barrow ship around the park with a miscelleny of passes and kicks. A pair to watch for sure.

Up front, ex- Workington and Leigh forward Tau Liku provides the power and if either Holt or Bowker find enough space for him he'll do real damage.

Elswhere across the team, Bell has assembled a hardworking unit big on graft. Hornets will have to start much better than they did against 'haven to get the upper hand.

In the Hornets side, Stevo will be missing - nursing, as he is, a whopping headache and a possible broken jaw courtesy of dirty, cheating git Leroy Joe. Matt Long could be in line for a start, giving a bench place to either Joe Berry or Dave Larder.

The team should go unchanged otherwise.

Two consecutive weeks in Cumbria is not much fun for the travelling Hornets faithful, but if the lads ever needed encouragement, it's this week. So pile a couple of mates into the car, pray for a fine day and get up there. Points on the road are vital if we're to maintain a serious challenge at the top of the NFP. We'll be there - see you Sunday.