Oldham's Neil Rodent is obviously feeling a little dillusional today . "We owe Rochdale one and we are quietly confident, while acknowledging they are a good side."

The big, fat decision for player coach Steve Molloy is whether to risk Jason Clegg if he is not fully fit. John Braddish, Phil Farrell, Bryan Henare, Paul Norton and Joey Hayes are all out injured.

The Biffs could well line-up: Dodd, Sibson, A Gibbons, Goddard, McNicholas, Cowell, Barber, Rodent, Brennan, Molloy, Hough, Clegg, Guest, Doran, Johnson, D Gibbons, Murray, Campbell.

Thursday

Littleborough's very own Jason Clegg is struggling to reach full fatness... er... fitness for Sunday.

The jarred knee that threatened his appearance at Hull KR (he played with the joint heavily strapped and taped - though they didn't mention whether it was a joint of lamb or beef) is still a cause for concern.

While his team mates trained at Manor Park last night, Clegg received physiotherapy (whilst eating a kebab, no doubt).

“My knee is still sore,” he said, “but I got through the Hull KR game and I’m hoping I will be able to do the same again at Rochdale.”

“We are as confident as we can be at this stage that he will be all right,” said Steve Molloy, accepting that there are a lot of chippies between here and Sunday.

Gavin Johnson, who played in the second-row against Dewsbury and Keighley is favourite to replace Bryan Henare in the second row alongside Lee Doran at Spotland.

WEDNESDAY Afternoon:

Joey Hayes is out of Sunday's game - he'll be replaced by academy player Will Cowell, who'll get a turn at watching Casey Mayberry run past him.

The Oldham evening Chronic also reports that Oldham supporters are planning to 'take over' the Wilbutts Lane stand with as many supporters as possible. Let's hope they fill it - the more we can disappoint, the better.

WEDNESDAY:

Oldham forward Paul Norton won't be playing on Sunday. In fact he won't play again until surgeons have corrected the damage to his spine that has kept him out for the last few weeks. His consultant will soon decide whether the two vertebrae will be fused or removed.
Also out for the rest of the season (i.e 80 more minutes) is fellow forward Phil Farrell, who's sidelined by a damaged shoulder.

TUESDAY:

Oldham's win at Dull KR was marred by a couple of incidents off the field.

Whilst Oldham fans were scrapping with the home supporters in the popular side, Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton was assaulted as he left his seat in the stand to congratulate the Oldham players as they left the field. “As I walked back towards the tunnel,” he said, “I saw a group of Hull KR fans on the terraces. They spat at me and I was hit on the side of my face and on my shoulder. I accepted the apology of the Hull KR club and as far as I’m concerned that’s the end of the matter."

Oldham will be without Kiwi forward Bryan Henare for Sunday's crunch game - he suffered a recurrence of knee trouble at Craven Park.