NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE

LEIGH CENTURIONS v ROCHDALE HORNETS
FREE-scoring winger Damian Munro looks set to miss Leigh's last home league game of the season against Rochdale. Munro lies second in the try-scoring stakes with 31 and will be sorely missed by Leigh, who also have a doubt with John Duffy (knee).

Ex-Leeds and Warrington winger Leroy Rivett is the likely replacement for Munro, while Lee Sanderson could well step onto the bench for Duffy.

"Both ourselves and Rochdale will want to keep up the momentum going into the play-offs,'' confessed coach Paul Terzis, who wastes no time in tuning his players up by demanding their full attention from now on.

"The players will go into full time training for the remainder of the season,'' said Terzis, whose position at Leigh stands or falls with the final outcome.

Rochdale will be without prop Wes Rogers, who received a two-match ban and a fine of £125 for his sending off against Salford. David Stephenson is set to return after coach Martin Hall held him back from playing against Featherstone "just as a precaution'', while Wayne McHugh, who also missed that match could well be overlooked yet again.

Hall, who is close to signing a new coaching contract with Hornets, could also have centre Matt Calland back from injury, while latest signing Ryan Blake, who joined the club before the deadline, could well retain his place on the bench.

BATLEY BULLDOGS v DONCASTER DRAGONS
THE Bulldogs could go into this game against Doncaster minus the scoring talents of fullback Craig Lingard. He suffered a suspected broken thumb against Oldham and unless the swelling goes down in time Lingard could well sit this one out, according to coach Paul Storey.

"We will probably have to shuffle things about if Craig is not fit,'' said Storey, who also has concerns about Steve Beard (neck) and Gavin Swinson (knee). Chris Spurr is on standby while Kris Lythes has returned from his loan spell with Huddersfield Giants and could make the Batley squad.

"This will be more than a dog fight,'' promises Storey, who needs victory for the home draw in the play-offs. And the player who will play an important role is new club record holder Barry Eaton, who passed Simon Wilson's mark of 127 goals in a season last weekend.

Doncaster are apparently going into the game "unchanged'' according to coach St John Ellis, who always has a trick up his sleeve.

"We will do the best we can. We got out of jail against Whitehaven last week and got the point that keeps us in contention. And that shows we have the spirit to go on and win,'' he said. With veteran centre Simon Irving having declared retirement, it has been left to Graham Holroyd to kick the goals lately and his expertise could well play a major part in the outcome.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v OLDHAM
A TUSSLE of immense proportions lie ahead of Featherstone and Oldham as they prepare for vital Sunday's clash at Post Office Road.

Rovers, by virtue of their splendid home form, must start as favourites to remain in the top six, but Oldham have suddenly ran into form and could create an upset.

"It's a massive game. We could either finish in the play-offs or end up in a disappointing seventh place,'' said Featherstone coach Andy Kelly who will run checks on Danny Seal, Ian Tonks, Steve Dooler, Carl Briggs, Richard Whiting and Richard Chapman ahead of the clash.

"It's been like Emergency Ward 10 in the treatment room this week,'' confessed Kelly, who has already ruled out Andy Bailey and Ian Brown for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, Oldham, who have had more than their fair share of injuries this season could be without prop Danny Guest (knee) and have doubts with Bradford Bulls on-loan winger Nick Johnson, who picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Batley.

"We are quite concerned about Nick's injury, so it's fingers crossed time at the moment,'' said player-coach Steve Molloy, who could have Chris Morley and Gavin Dodd back for the game. "It's been our biggest turnover in players for a number of seasons, but we pride ourselves in doing well in the play-offs and I would hope we have another chance to prove it,'' said Molloy.

HULL KR v SALFORD CITY REDS
THE Robins are "bobbin with delight'' after clinching fourth spot on the National League One. Coach Steve Linnane could hardly disguise his pride in the achievement, albeit that he faces the toughest of tests against Salford on Sunday.

Linnane has gone on record as stating that this is "just another game'' but deep down he will be even more delighted should Hull KR dent Salford's objective of winning the League Leadership. With such as Jimmy Walker, Harvey Howard and Nick Pinkney ruled out of the equation, Hull KR could well field the side that hammered Dewsbury by 60-8, although Howard could well return from injury to play in the play-offs.

Salford have gone from strength to strength, their latest win over Leigh virtually assuring them of the Premiership title Coach Karl Harrison has been blessed with a wealth of talent such as Cliff Beverley, Gavin Clinch, Andy Kirk, Neil Baynes and Andy Coley.

With Simon Baldwin being cleared of an accusation of 'racial abuse' this week, it leaves Harrison with the opportunity to take an unchanged side to Humberside. But they will have to be at their very best on what is one of the most influential pitches in the National League One.

WHITEHAVEN v DEWSBURY RAMS
CUMBRIANS Whitehaven could seal sixth spot in the play-offs should they, as the form-book suggests, beat relegated Dewsbury. But coach Steve McCormack is not taking anything for granted and is preparing for the Yorkshire side to "rise to the occasion''.

"We understand that they have a few players coming back off injury and that will give them a boost, but if we perform the way we did against Doncaster then we stand an excellent chance of making the top six,'' said McCormack, who has Leroy Joe, Aaron Lester and Howard Hill on the treatment table ahead of the game.

"It's a fingers crossed situation with all three,'' revealed McCormack, who could also have on-loan forward Matt Sturm back from an ankle injury.

The Rams expect to have big prop Frank Watene making his last appearance for the club before he leaves to sign for Hull KR. Graham Law and Kevin Crouthers could also boost the Dewsbury bus by announcing their return from injury. Coach Andy Fisher hopes the players "will give their best,'' for their final game in National League One and promises:

"We will be back at the end of next season''.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO

YORK CITY KNIGHTS v HUNSLET HAWKS
FIFTH place and a home draw in the play-offs is the big incentive for York and Hunslet ahead of their clash on Friday night. Both have 21 points from 17 games and are separated on points difference with York having a slight advantage, but nothing will be taken for granted on this occasion.

With new signing John Okul, the ex-Barrow forward, being Paul Broadbent's only concern the City Knights will have a much similar side on duty to that which toppled Chorley Lynx from pole position last week. Okul broke a finger in that game and is extremely doubtful, leaving the gate open for ex-Hunslet forward Dan Briggs to receive the call to play against his former club.

"Last week's win over Chorley was an excellent advert for the game. We were very impressed with Chorley's performance and can see why they have finished in a top position,'' said York's chief executive Steve Ferres.

The Hawks have a problem or two to sort out before naming their side, with prop Steve Pryce in grave danger of missing the game with a knee injury. Hooker Jermaine Wray is battling for fitness too, while free- scoring winger Bryn Powell has a groin strain. That leaves coach Roy Sampson pondering his line-up. Sean Ibbetson could move in to fill Pryce's spot, with Joe Hawley on standby as hooker, but Sampson will remind everyone: "not to write us off yet,'' even though the Hawks suffered a big defeat at Barrow last week.

"We have made a big improvement on last year, when we only won three games. We are in the play-offs and that is an important step forward,'' said Sampson.

SHEFFIELD EAGLES v WORKINGTON TOWN
SECOND row forward Craig Brown is in danger of losing his ever-present tag as Sheffield take on Workington at Don Valley Stadium (4.00). Brown (ankle) and Andy Rayleigh have formed the Eagles second row pairing throughout the league season, but coach Mark Aston, who dropped himself for the first time this campaign last week against Gateshead, has high hopes that Brown will make it.

"I hope he does. It would be a shame to miss this one,'' said Aston, who stepped aside to allow Dale Laughton some bench time against Thunder.

"It was important to get Dale back in the game,'' said Aston, who anticipates having a full compliment for the game. Workington will be out to cause a shock on the back of their big win over London Skolars last week.

Coach Billy McGinty was delighted with the performance that saw Town run in 16 tries.

"We attacked well and completed the sets very, very well, which shows the players are now responding to instructions,'' said McGinty.

With Matt Tunstall (eye), Scott Chilton (knee) and Darren King (family commitment) all in danger of missing the trip to Sheffield, McGinty will have to don his thinking cap if he is to fill in the gaps. But it's all about next season as Workington prepare to strengthen their side with several Kiwi signings.

"I'm sad that the season is virtually over, but glad that we can now look to next year,'' said McGinty, who praised the Workington board for their efforts in keeping the club afloat.

"They deserve a big pat on the back,'' he said

GATESHEAD THUNDER v KEIGHLEY COUGARS
THUNDER coach Paul Fletcher makes his final bow before leaving the Gateshead club after a two-year spell in charge. Fletcher hopes to end his campaign on a high note and trusts his players will "play their hearts out'' against joint league leaders Keighley.

"We have sailed through some tough waters over the past nine months. During that time we have had some high spots too with the first league win of the season at York one of them,'' said Fletcher, who predicts that 16-try centre Damian Reed will be the next player to leave the club after winger Richard Barnett agreed to join Hull this week.

Keighley, determined to remain in the running for promotion, have Richard Mervill (dead leg) and Chris Wainwright (knee) on the treatment table, while prop Danny Ekis is drafted into the squad. Pack leader Jason Ramshaw's escape from possible suspension last week means that he will run things again from the loose forward spot.

"We had a narrow squeak against Swinton last week, but that is all behind us now,'' said Cougars assistant-coach Paul Moses.

LONDON SKOLARS v CHORLEY LYNX
PACKLEADER Brett McCoary returns to the front row for London's last game of their "professional debut'' in National League Two.

McCoary and loose forward Glenn Osborn are the only two changes expected to coach Mark Croston's line-up against promotion candidates Chorley, although standoff Jake Johnstone (shoulder) is a major doubt.

"The end of the season has come round very quickly,'' confessed Croston, who would be delighted to wind up with a win.

"We all appreciate what we have been through. But to get a win under our belts before the season ended was tougher than we expected,'' he said. Main sponsors Portman Group have thus rewarded the home fans by stating that they will allow them into the game for free.

"It's a lovely gesture,'' said Croston. Chorley have worries with prop Martin Roden, hooker Mike Briggs and utility forward Simon Smith, who all finished the game with a broken nose against York last week.

"We were very disappointed with what happened at York,'' revealed coach Darren Abram, whose other main concern is with Mick Coates' back injury.

"At least we will know what we need to do to finish on top of the division,'' said Abram, noting that main rivals Sheffield play on Saturday afternoon. With winger Eric Andrews in sparkling form having scored in 14 successive games and goal kicker Mark McCully needing four more on target to better the club record of 101 set by Phil Jones in 1998, two Lynx players at least have big incentives.

SWINTON LIONS v BARROW RAIDERS
THE Lions will aim to leave this National League Two campaign roaring their intentions to do better next term in their final game of the season against Barrow.

Coach Peter Roe has done a remarkable job since he took over from Phil Veivers, creating problems for such as Sheffield, Chorley and Keighley and taking the club into the quarter-finals of the Powergen Challenge Cup. All that and establishing their position in a new stadium has made it a challenging, if not somewhat lucrative season for Swinton. With Chris Roe (knee) and Kris Tassell (shoulder) the only two possible absentees for the game against Barrow, Roe could well pull one more stroke of genius by halting the Raiders' charge.

Barrow, however, could hoist themselves into fifth spot by winning at Swinton and with such as Tane Manihera, Player of the Year Andrew Henderson and Aussie Dave Clark, plus the possible return of Chris Archer on their side, it points to a distinct possibility.

Coach Cameron Bell, whose two-year contract with the club ends with their final game, will be happy to have cemented a top six spot regardless of Sunday's outcome.