HULL KR v ROCHDALE HORNETS

THIS clash of the Titans, between Hull KR and Rochdale, must take top billing in the Northern Ford Premiership.

With Mark Cain, Nick Pinkney, Dane Dorahy and Richard Wilson all returning to coach Gary Wilkinson's squad after missing the game against Chorley, it will add bounce to the Robins stride towards a possible top four place.

Wilson is expected to take over from injured prop Dave Luckwell, while Cain could come in for Craig Murdock at scrum half, while Adam Sullivan is unavailable, due to a previously arranged holiday

"This is our opportunity to make sure of a play-off place. Rochdale are a very good side, but our record at Craven Park is second to none,'' boasted coach Wilkinson, whose only home defeat was at the hands of runaway leaders Huddersfield.

"We have chalked up over 150 points in our last three home games, which is another excellent achievement,'' said Wilkinson.

Rochdale, hanging on to third spot in the division, could have ex-Halifax flier Casey Mayberry vying for a place in the backs, but coach Martin Hall may have to find a forward replacement for David Stephenson, who is carrying a knee injury from the win over Whitehaven last week.

"This is perhaps our toughest game for weeks. It won't be easy because Craven Park is such a tight pitch, so we will have to adjust our game,'' warned coach Hall, who believes Hornets made hard work of beating Whitehaven last week.

"If we can get a result at Hull, then I am confident that we will finish in the top four,'' said Hall.

LEIGH CENTURIONS v FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

THE Centurions hope to have former Great Britain scrum half Bobbie Goulding sporting a Leigh jersey for the clash with Featherstone.

Coach Paul Terzis is confident that Goulding will be signed in time to play, even though there are still some hurdles to overcome.

"Bobbie has all but signed. Both parties have agreed to the deal, which I expect will go through in the next 24 hours,'' said a confident Terzis.

But Leigh will be without Phil Kendrick (broken nose) and Dave Bradbury (knee), while the return of Cumbrian centre Jon Roper should ease the problems.

"We won't be taking Featherstone lightly. They got the result against us earlier in the season and are a side that can score points. But this is a game I feel we can win quite comfortably,'' said Terzis.

Featherstone, who have second row forward Neil Lowe and scrum half Jamie Rooney in sparkling form, will be without prop Craig Booth, who has picked up a two-match ban and a £75 fine for an alleged high tackle.

Squad player Danny Evans has also picked up a one-match ban after being sent off playing for the club's Academy side.

But coach Andy Kelly is confident in naming a strong side for the trip over the Pennines.

BATLEY BULLDOGS v WHITEHAVEN

BATLEY boss Paul Storey is keen to get his charges back in winning mood and is buoyed by the return of Ryan Horsley, Andrew Spink, David Rourke and Mark Cass.

"It's not going to be easy. I watched Whitehaven at Rochdale and I thought they had it in the bag,'' said Bulldogs coach Paul Storey, whose only doubt is with winger Paul Gleadhill.

"He twisted his knee at Sheffield and I will have a closer look at him later in the week,'' said Storey, who was upset to lose a previously unbeaten nine-match sequence at Sheffield.

"Basically it was a dubious last-minute penalty that did us, but the score-line shouldn't have been so tight,'' he said.

Whitehaven don't rate Warren Stevens, Gary Purdham and Leroy Joe's chances of making the kick-off.

Coach Paul Cullen, who lost Peter Lupton and Rob Jackson back to London Broncos, says the injured trio are having daily treatment.

"I'm not sure at this stage whether they will make it or not, but we certainly could do with them on the park at Batley,'' said Cullen.

CHORLEY LYNX v WORKINGTON TOWN

HOSTS Chorley confront Cumbrians Workington at Victory Park in what could well be another eye-opener.

Having beaten Town in the Buddies Cup three months ago, Chorley will feel they could pull off a repeat performance, even though they lost heavily at Hull KR last week.

Coach Graeme West put the blame on that defeat down to the effects of two long distance successive away fixtures.

"Maybe we don't travel well, but I do feel that we would have kept the score down better at home,'' he said.

With new on-loan signing Anthony Murray unavailable, West could have Simon Smith, Paul Wilcox and Ian Parry back in action to offset the loss.

Workington will run a check on hooker Carl Sice, but coach Martin Wood may make another change at scrum half in his search for a better halfback balance.

Owen Williamson figured there against Leigh, but didn't prove to be the answer, so Wood may bring Steven Wood back in to the problem spot alongside Tane Manihera.

DEWSBURY RAMS v GATESHEAD THUNDER

THE Rams can continue their head-on charge up the table, provided they don't take a much-better organised Gateshead for granted.

Dewsbury feel better for their "tonic win'' over Doncaster, according to coach Andy Fisher, but he has already warned his players about being complacent.

"Paul Fletcher is doing a very good job at Gateshead and I shall treat them with the fullest respect. But our main concern now is to score as many points as we can and not let any in. Then, if we go about it the right way in the next few weeks, I believe we can still finish in the top nine,'' predicted Fisher.

With Carl Briggs and Tony Fella due back from injury, Fisher may well rest Richard Slater for another week.

"There a few permutations I can use in the pack, so it could mean a couple of changes for the Gateshead game,'' he said.

Gateshead have prop Sam Tunnell and Craig Firth both back from injury, but hooker Craig Fisher may have to give way to a neck injury. If that proves to be the case, Chris Fletcher will take over in the middle of the front row.

Coach Fletcher, who came close to steering his Thunder side to their first win of the season against Keighley last week, feels that success is not that far away.

"I am very pleased with our progress and I feel that a win soon would put the icing on the cake for the players,'' he said.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS

THE Cougars will be without winger Craig Horne after he was banned for one game following an incident against Featherstone Rovers.

Karl Smith has bruised ribs and Stuart Calvert is still not clear of his groin injury, leaving coach Gary Moorby with selection problems in his back division.

But Moorby feels his side won't go into the game against Huddersfield feeling that they are onto a hiding to nothing.

"Huddersfield are a side that will allow teams to play rugby and that could be helpful to our players,'' said Moorby.

The Giants are likely to be unchanged, even though regular hooker Darren Turner is facing possible suspension after being sent off against Oldham.

"I don't see any reason for change at this point,'' said coach Tony Smith, who could bring Paul March into the squad.

OLDHAM v HUNSLET HAWKS

OLDHAM player-coach Steve Molloy may leave himself out of the line-up to face Hunslet after opening up a cut above his eye for the third match running.

Molloy will want to be in prime condition to play against his former club Batley, so he may well not risk himself on Sunday.

Molloy will also run checks on several other players, including centre Gareth Barber and scrum half Keith Brennan, before naming his side.

But Oldham will have to watch Hunslet's impressive winger Bryn Powell with extra care because the hat trick he scored against Barrow took his touch down tally for the season so far to 19. An impressive strike rate.

The Hawks hope to have scrum half Nicky Dobson on the bench, but prop Steve Pryce is doubtful with an ankle injury, while Dave Jessey is still trying to shake off the effects of ‘flu.

SWINTON LIONS v DONCASTER DRAGONS

SWINTON hope that their new home at Moor Lane will bring a turn in fortunes on Sunday, even though they face top-flight side Doncaster.

Coach Phil Veivers is determined to get things right for the game and could have the boost of Stuart Dickinson returning from injury.

"If we can avoid giving away early points I feel we can start to win again. We still have eight games left in which to make a difference to our league placing and I want everyone to give 100 per cent, starting on Sunday,'' said Veivers, who feels that an even bigger boost to the club would be the return of the Lions' missing fans.

"This is our new home and a new start for everyone and that includes the fans,'' said Veivers.

Doncaster will run a fitness check on winger Richard Baker, who picked up a head injury in the defeat at Dewsbury.

But coach St John Ellis is still without the suspended Tony Atter and Dale Cardoza.

"We have pinpointed a total of 30 points as our benchmark to finish in the play-offs and on present form that is quite achievable,'' said Dragons' chief executive Ray Green.