NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE

ROCHDALE HORNETS v SALFORD CITY REDS

ROCHDALE'S unbeaten National League One record will be tested to the hilt when they take on former Tetley’s Super League club Salford at Spotland on Sunday. And they might have to face the task with stand off Radney Bowker on the opposite side.

Bowker has been on loan with Rochdale from Salford, but Reds boss Karl Harrison recalled the former Barrow standoff in time to play in the Arriva Trains Cup semi-final clash with Batley.

"Radney will be with us for the game against Rochdale and I may even play him,'' warned Harrison, who had Bowker on the bench last week.

"We should have a similar side to the Batley match and that's a bonus because Rochdale are the form team in our division at the moment,'' said Harrison, who had ex-Featherstone forward Neil Lowe ruled out because of a knee operation this week.

Hornets coach Martin Hall is disappointed that Bowker has been forced to return to Salford, but he may well rise above that by signing three experienced players ahead of the game.

"I have a signing or two lined-up and hopefully they will be in the bag before the weekend,'' said Hall, who is linked with Leigh's John Hamilton; Oldham's released winger Chris Irwin and centre Matt Calland, who was recently released by Huddersfield Giants following a badly broken eye socket.

Rochdale's record of five wins from five is the best start of any side in that division with visitors Salford having lost one and drawn one from six and leaders Leigh having lost one from six. But the Hornets will have to be on top of their game to fend off the challenge of the City Reds, who bamboozled Batley Bulldogs to reach the final of the Arriva Trains Cup last weekend.

DEWSBURY RAMS v LEIGH CENTURIONS

THE Rams expect to have recent recruit Kevin Crouthers in their line-up against National League One leaders Leigh.

Crouthers is one of a handful of coach Andy Fisher's imports and the Warrington Wolves on-loan centre is certain to start, according to Fisher, who is also planning to have Bradford Bulls on-loan prop Paul Smith in his front row, along side the robust Frank Watene.

Fisher, who sensationally released four of his squad last week following a string of poor results, believes there could be an upsurge in the side's capabilities following the player cull.

"I think the players realised that no-one has a safe place in the side and there was a new spring to their step in training this week,'' said Fisher.

But with Richard Slater missing with an ankle strain, Graham Law may well switch from standoff the loose forward. Leigh coach Paul Terzis was relieved to see Lee Sanderson and Dave Alstead come through the rigorous Under 21s match with no ill effects. They, along with John Duffy, who had a knee injury, will bolster the Centurions squad, although winger Leroy Rivett (knee) and Dave Bradbury (hamstring) will face late fitness tests.

"Dewsbury beat us on their own pitch last season and it was a shock at the time. But we will take greater care on Sunday,'' said Terzis, who successfully guided his side through to the Arriva Trains Cup final at Spotland on July 6th, courtesy of a 39-18 win over Whitehaven.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v HULL KR

NEW signings Gareth Greenwood and Scott Grix will make their debuts for Doncaster against Hull KR on Sunday.

Coach St John Ellis opted to make those changes after watching his side lose heavily at Leigh two weeks ago.

"We were never in the race at Leigh. The players didn't perform and as a result I feel we have got to bring in new blood. And that could also mean upgrading some of the younger players too,'' forecast Ellis, who is still without Chris Ross (ankle).

"I believe this is a game we can definitely win and that would kick-start our season into another dimension,'' said Ellis.

The Robins look set to start without hooker Paul Pickering and prop Jamie Bovill after both youngsters picked up injuries in the Under 21s midweek game at Leigh. Pickering has a knee injury, while Bovill was forced to go for an X-ray on a damaged hand.

But the good news for coach Steve Linnane is that former Great Britain prop Harvey Howard has shaken off a knee problem that hampered him in the game against Oldham two weeks ago. Meanwhile, winger Alasdair McLarron and centre Craig Poucher are both finding it difficult to break into the present Robins squad.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v BATLEY BULLDOGS

CENTRE Chris Langley is unlikely to figure in Featherstone's home game against Batley. The former Huddersfield Giants player has been struck down by a stomach bug and has not trained for two weeks, according to coach Andy Kelly, who could also be without fullback Nathan Graham for the next three weeks.

"We can't seem to diagnose the problem for Chris, so it doesn't look too good for the weekend, while Nathan has damaged ribs from the heavy defeat at Whitehaven and he could be another two weeks,'' said Kelly.

With Andy Bailey carrying a hernia injury from the Under 21s match and Richard Whiting passed fit, it's a mixed bag of news from the Rovers camp. Batley will have new signing Danny Evans from Dewsbury in their ranks to face his former club Featherstone.

Evans was snapped up by coach Paul Storey, who has concerns over the fitness of Andy Spink and Mark Sibson. Ryan McDonald and Craig Booth are expected to get the all clear to play, but Dave Gibbons looks set for a long lay-off with damaged ligaments in his right wrist, so Mark Toohey looks the likely replacement at standoff.

"We need to pick ourselves up after that heavy defeat at Salford and it would be ideal if we can do that at Featherstone,'' said coach Storey.

OLDHAM v WHITEHAVEN

NEWCOMER Dan Potter will continue his on-loan spell with Oldham, but coach Steve Molloy may well move him from centre to the pack for the game against Whitehaven. Molloy has deep concerns about forwards Paul Norton and Phil Farrell and, if both fail late fitness tests, the Oldham boss may well switch the Widnes Vikings utility player to act as cover in the pack.

"Paul, is to see a specialist about a neck injury and if it turns out to be the same one that troubled him earlier in the season, he could well be ruled out,'' said Molloy.

Whitehaven will be without Marc Jackson, who was suspended for three games following his dismissal against Featherstone, which leaves coach Steve McCormack with a huge headache if ace card Leroy Joe is ruled out by injury. Joe picked up a rib problem in the Arriva Trains Cup defeat at Leigh and is undergoing daily treatment. Forwards David Fatialofa, Graeme Morton and Spencer Miller are also doubtful. Lee Kiddie and possibly hooker Carl Sice, if he is passed fit, could step into the breach.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO

BARROW RAIDERS v SWINTON LIONS

PROMISING winger Paul Salmon leaps back into Barrow's plans following his return from a fruitless spell with Widnes Vikings. Salmon is sure to take the field as Barrow bid to stay in touch with the National League Two leader, Keighley Cougars and Hunslet Hawks.

Coach Cameron Bell has no doubts after watching Salmon come through a rigorous two week training session:

"Paul is ready to claim his place in the team and it comes as welcome relief after the injury spell we have had,'' said Bell.

With centre Paul Jones also set to return, it leaves Craig Bower and Dave Clark as Bell's two main injury problems. Swinton could be short of experience in the front row if Lee Hansen (knee) and skipper Simon Knox (thigh) are both ruled out.

Coach Peter Roe is "struggling to name replacements,'' and may be forced to bring in a fresh face before Sunday's trip to Cumbria.

"It's a tough place to go to, so we need all the experience we can get,'' said Roe, who had fullback Wayne English and Rob Russell both sent off for fighting against London Skolars last week.

CHORLEY LYNX v YORK CITY KNIGHTS

REJUVENATED Chorley are odds on to make it four wins on the trot when they take on London Skolars on Sunday Coach Darren Abram is boosted by the hope that he could well have Leigh's promising second row forward Anthony Blackwood in his line-up.

But Abram has doubts about the fitness of Dave Whittle, John Braddish and Dave Ingram, who all face fitness tests ahead of the game.

"We will be geared up for the game against Skolars, because I don't want Chorley to be the first team to lose to the London side,'' said Abram, who is waiting for the all-clear from Leigh to have Blackwood on loan.

Skolars have ex-Cardiff Welsh Students 22-year-old prop Graham Hughes making his club debut for the club, but experienced front row forward Alan Tito could be the man to step down if he fails a fitness test. And coach Mark Croston also plans to blood Australian halfback Grason McDonald at some point in the game after naming him in the squad to travel. With Brett McCroary sent off in a bad-tempered clash against Swinton, Croston will be keen not to lose any more of his pack.

HUNSLET HAWKS v YORK CITY KNIGHTS

EMERGING forward Craig Ibbotson is the latest casualty for Hunslet coach Roy Sampson to have on his mind ahead of their home game with York City Knights.

Ibbotson was badly injured playing for the National League under 21s side against the Super League equivalent at Leigh and could face a long lay-off and maybe even an operation on his shoulder.

Fortunately, Sampson was able to sign Dewsbury forward Chris Parker, after the Rams released him last weekend and he could well step into the breach. With prop Dan Briggs, loose forward Danny Fearon and centre Steve Jakeman back in training and Andy Bastow coming through his return from injury, Sampson has some light relief.

York may give a debut to new signing Lee Moreton from West Hull, provided he can shake off an ankle injury.

The 23-year-old fullback or centre joined the Knights this week and is one of two new faces to join the club in the past couple of weeks.

Doncaster prop Craig Forsyth agreed to move to York ahead of their home game against Swinton and proved an instant success, giving coach Paul Broadbent the hope that they can string together their first back-to-back wins of the season.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v GATESHEAD THUNDER

COACH Gary Moorby has visions of "seventh heaven'' from Sunday's clash with Gateshead. With six wins from six league outings, Keighley are on top of National League Two and setting a hot pace for the rest to follow.

"We are going well and intend to keep it that way,'' said Moorby, whose main concern is keeping his squad of 22 players in a happy state of mind.

"I discussed the situation with my assistant Paul Moses this week and we feel it might be the right occasion to rotate the squad a little and give some players who haven't played for a while some game time,'' said Moorby, who adds Paul Ashton, Ricky Halliwell and Chris Hannah to his plans.

Gateshead could be without star centre Damian Reed after he picked up a calf injury playing for the Under 21s. But coach Paul Fletcher has Tom Lawrence, Adam Thornton and Mike Lyons in reserve.

David Bates is a doubt with a knee problem, while Jermaine Coleman and Ritchie Barnett may need a late fitness check after playing a mid-week game for the Great Britain Students.

WORKINGTON TOWN v SHEFFIELD EAGLES

TOWN coach Billy McGinty is moving mountains to bolster his new team and Wigan's John Paul-Doherty could be his next signing ahead of the game against Sheffield.

McGinty is keen to get some experience and new blood in his plans and, while he can more or less select a similar side to that which gained a point against Gateshead two weeks ago, the ex-Wigan and Warrington forward needs to move his team up another rung.

With uncompromising William Blackburn agreeing to play through his hand injury, McGinty has obviously won the respect of Workington's players.

The Eagles have Jon Bruce and Damien Whitter fit again while new signing Tom O'Reilly could well make his bow, provided he arrives in time to play.

Coach Mark Aston said: "Tom should be here by Friday at the latest so I expect to have him in the squad to travel, Ex-Rochdale and York hooker Darren Robinson and maybe packman Richard Goddard could also make the trip.