HORNETS v OLDHAM

STRONG running forwards Matt Leigh and David Stephenson bolster Rochdale's pack for the home game with neighbours Oldham.

Both are likely to win a place in coach Martin Hall's plans for what he described as: "A very important fixture,''

"We need to get back into winning mode after losing at Featherstone last week,'' said Hall, who was far from happy with the way which his side lost at Post Office Road.

"Hopefully we will get a fair crack of the whip against Oldham,'' he said after seeing a penalty count of three to one destroy his chances of beating Rovers.

With centre James Bunyan and scrum half Ian Watson in need of treatment, Hornets could be forced to make some unwanted changes in the backs.

Oldham have a doubt with player-coach Steve Molloy, who suffered a broken nose in the draw against his former club Batley.

"I need to see the club doctor before I decide what to do,'' said Molloy, who could bring in Martin McLoughlin, Ryan Staziker or Chris Morley as his replacement.

Dan Potter's return to Widnes Vikings following his month loan, leaves space for Paul Anderson to slot back in at centre, while prop Paul Norton could be ruled out with a neck injury.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

NEW signings Anthony Seuseu and PJ Solomon come into Doncaster coach St John Ellis' plans ahead of the home game against Featherstone Rovers on Friday night.

The shrewd Ellis snapped up kiwi Seuseu within hours of being released by Tetley’s Super League club Halifax and goes directly into the squad as does ex-London Skolars and Gateshead centre Solomon.

With utility forward Peter Edwards likely return from injury, having missed the win at Whitehaven, Ellis' injury list is starting to clear up. But will Ellis opt to make changes, or go with the side that won so comfortably at Whitehaven? That is the question.

"If it's not broken, then don't mend it is my motto,'' commented Ellis.

Featherstone, cock-a-hoop from their commanding win over Rochdale, will run checks on Ben Archibald and Ian Brown who are both sporting ankle injuries.

Coach Andy Kelly will hold back his selection in the hope that both players will recover.

"We set ourselves a target to the half-way mark of the season and while our away form doesn't match our home record, we can improve on that this week,'' said Kelly, who is delighted with Richard Whiting's form at standoff.

"Richard Agar is struggling with his injuries so I'm just glad that Richard is performing so well,'' said Kelly.

DEWSBURY RAMS v BATLEY BULLDOGS

KEY halfback Danny Wood is ruled out against Batley on Sunday and is set to miss the remainder of Dewsbury's season after breaking his jaw in three places.

The ex-Rochdale standoff, signed by coach Andy Fisher to "do a job'' will be sorely missed by the Rams.

"We went to pieces after Danny went off. It definitely cost us the game against Hull KR,'' said Fisher, who will either switch Graham Law to half back or leave Adam Thaler with the task of filling the breach.

Nathan Batty could return from a blood infection problem, but Fisher's main concern is getting back to winning ways.

"We must win against Batley this week. But then it's a pressure game for both clubs,'' said Fisher, who could contemplate playing himself in order to give the side some leadership on the field.

Batley are minus Matt Bramald, who was handed a two-match suspension and fined £175 for an incident during the game with Featherstone Rovers. His place in the side will go to either Simon Lewis or Chris Spurr, unless Leon Williamson fails a late fitness test, then both could end up playing.

Star fullback Craig Lingard is poised to return from injury, while prop Ryan McDonald plays his final on-loan game before returning to Super League side Widnes Vikings. Utility forward Joe Berry could be on the bench, but the good news for Batley fans is that promising 20-year-old halfback Danny Thomas has been signed until the end of the season after Leeds Rhinos released him from his contract.

With less than two miles separating the two Heavy Woollen club grounds, this match will have plenty of "spice'', according to both coaches.

LEIGH CENTURIONS v HULL KR

TOUGH tackling Leigh centre Dale Cardoza returns from a four-match suspension to face in-form Hull KR.

Cardoza and winger Leroy Rivett are the only two likely changes to coach Paul Terzis side, although centre Alan Hadcroft must be rated a big doubt after dislocating his big toe in the defeat against Salford.

Leigh's latest capture Tommy Martyn from Super League side St Helens is still not fit, but Terzis believes he could be ready to face Batley in three weeks time.

With only 17 fit players to choose from, Terzis may well recall some of his loan players as cover.

"It's a question of necessity,'' said Terzis, who is almost ready to announce another significant signing.

"Tommy Martyn is our biggest ever signing, but we have another top signing in the pipeline,'' said Terzis.

Hull KR are without loose forward Dean Busby (ribs) and former Great Britain prop Harvey Howard (neck), while centre Paul Parker (knee) and Paul Fletcher (wrist) are both extremely doubtful.

Dean Andrews, Craig Farrell, Adam Sullivan, Alasdair McLarron or Andy Smith are the players coach Steve Linnane could call into the squad to travel.

SALFORD CITY REDS v WHITEHAVEN

CONFIDENT Salford add new signing Wes Davies to their squad ahead of Sunday's game against Whitehaven. And coach Karl Harrison predicts that the Welsh former Orrell rugby union and Wigan winger will take some part, if not start the game.

"He's a big capture for us. Once we knew that he was keen to get back into the game, we moved quickly to sign him,'' said Harrison.

With no injuries from the clash with fellow promotion favourites Leigh, Salford can look to securing their place at the top of National League One, simply because Whitehaven, one of only two clubs who have taken points off Salford so far this season, have run into more injury problems.

"We really are struggling at the moment,'' said worried coach Steve McCormack, who could again be without catalyst Leroy Joe and Gary Purdham.

The influential Aaron Lester has to play through his injury, while Marc Jackson is still suspended, leaving McCormack to search round for some on-loan replacements.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO

CHORLEY LYNX v YORK CITY KNIGHTS

TOUGH prop Dave Whittle misses Chorley's home game with Division Two rivals York after picking up a career-threatening injury.

Whittle dislocated his knee cap in the game at Barrow and will miss the remainder of the season, according to coach Darren Abram.

"It's a bitter blow for Dave and the club. His cruciate and medial ligaments were also damaged in the incident,'' said Abram, who also has concerns over the fitness of Dave Ingram (groin) and Tim Street (ankle).

But welcome news for Abram is that both loose forward Ian Hodson and winger Eric Andrews have both been called up to train with the National League Under 21s who face the Tetley’s Super League Under 21s as the curtain raiser to the Origin game between Yorkshire and Lancashire at Odsal next Wednesday.

The City Knights have a worry over fullback Chris Smith, who damaged his knee in the win at Workington.

Coach Paul Broadbent has several options open to him, which could include calling up winger Rob Carma and switching Alex Godfrey to fullback.

"We have got to keep our minds focussed on Chorley. They are a very good side and will take some beating on their own ground,'' said Broadbent.

HUNSLET HAWKS v BARROW RAIDERS

COACH Roy Sampson could well blood his latest prop forward signing Neil Mears in the home clash with Barrow.

Normanton-based Mears, 23, should have made his debut against Swinton Lions last week, but he pulled out at the last minute with a bruised knee.

With Jon-lee Lockwood and Andy Brent back in full training, Sampson may have a few selection headaches to sort out ahead of the match.

Barrow coach Cameron Bell needs to find a replacement for robust prop Geoff Luxon after he picked up a pre-match injury with James Stainton and Dave Clark still having treatment for their respective injuries, Bell is short on forward cover.

"This will be a tough test at Hunslet. We beat Swinton quite easily a few weeks ago and they went on to draw at Hunslet, which gives an indication of how close things are in our division,'' said Bell.

SHEFFIELD EAGLES v GATESHEAD THUNDER

PROP Damian Whitter's return to the Sheffield pack could be delayed beyond Sunday's home game with Gateshead.

The ex-Barrow front row man has been on the fringe of an injury comeback for several weeks, but coach Mark Aston is considering leaving well alone following the Eagles fine win over National League Two pace-setters Keighley Cougars.

"It will be very difficult to change a winning side,'' said Aston, who may bring Darren Robinson and Neil Kite into the squad plans, along with Whitter. That would then leave Richard Goddard and Guy Adams as Aston's two major injury problems.

Gateshead look set to give amateurs Steve Morton and Peter Oshagbemi a further chance to prove themselves after they performed so well on their debuts last week. Coach Paul Fletcher was delighted with the way his side hammered London Skolars by 50-20 stating:

"That was a very satisfying win indeed. We scored some fabulous tries, but it will be a different kettle of fish at Sheffield on Sunday.''

With a nap hand of tries from loose forward Andy Walker and nine goals from Paul Thorman, Thunder can be well pleased with that performance.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v SWINTON LIONS

THE Cougars will remain unchanged for the home game with Swinton if coach Gary Moorby considers it necessary. Having suffered their first league defeat in eight games, the Keighley boss is not in the market to make any hasty decisions.

"If I had been offered seven wins from eight at the start of the season I would have been delighted, so there is no need to panic yet,'' he said.

The Lions, however, could be virtually unrecognisable from their line-up, which grabbed a welcome draw against Hunslet last week, with Jason Roach (holiday), Simon Knox (thigh) and Kris Tassell (hip) all unlikely to play.

Coach Peter Roe has acquired Wes Rogers on loan from Rochdale; while Rob Gallagher should make the starting line-up and Rob Barraclough win a place in the bench, making it six changes in all.

On-loan centre Mark Ashton, sent off on his debut, is expected to retain his spot despite the incident in the last minute against Hunslet. Keighley-based Roe will thus be "over the moon'' if his side take the spoils.

LONDON SKOLARS v WORKINGTON TOWN

COACH Mark Croston has a full pack of forward changes at his disposal for the home game with Workington.

Croston sees Alan Tito, Kamu Henare, Charles Oyebade, Stephan Hughes and Paul Koloi in line for action, while prop Brett McCroary is free of his one-match suspension.

"We are two struggling sides, but this is a good opportunity for us. So we must fancy our chances of a win,'' said Croston.

Workington boss Billy McGinty will also be delighted to get his first two points, but he needs to find a replacement for second row forward William Blackburn, who dislocated his shoulder against York City Knights and looks set for a six week lay-off.

New amateur signing Dan Gilmore from Leigh Miners could make his debut alongside Wigan St Patrick's halfback Shaun Boylan, while Brett Smith and prop Craig Barker will both be in the squad to travel.