NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE

ROCHDALE HORNETS v LEIGH CENTURIONS

THIS top of the table clash between Rochdale and Leigh could have a major bearing on the end of season league placings. That is the joint assessment of both Rochdale coach Martin Hall and Leigh boss Paul Terzis.

Hall feels this could be the making of Rochdale if they win:

"We made hard work of beating Whitehaven and have a lot of improvements to make if we are to topple Leigh,'' he said.

With Paul Southern (flu), Matt Long (hip) and Gareth Price (hamstring) all struggling for fitness, Hall is forced to bide his time on team selection.

But with ex-Leigh players John Hamilton, Chris Irwin and Radney Bower fitting in well at Rochdale, it could give them the edge on this occasion.

Leigh will be without scrum half John Duffy, who damaged his knee ligaments in the Arriva Trains Cup final defeat against Salford City Reds.

Willie Swan picked up an ankle injury too but is expected to have recovered in time to play, but there is little hope that Lee Sanderson can shake off his leg injury. Hooker Paul Rowley and full back Neil Turley came through the Salford clash unscathed, leaving Terzis to add Dave Alstead and Dale Holdstock to his squad.

"We are still heading in the right direction, despite the Salford defeat,'' said Terzis, who feels that his hopes of clinching a Tetley’s Super League place next season could well hinge on new signing Tommy Martyn's contribution to the team in three weeks time.

SALFORD CITY REDS v HULL KR

PLAYMAKER Gavin Clinch is odds on to miss the home game against Hull KR. Clinch picked up a nasty facial injury in the Arriva Trains Cup final and is unlikely to be fit for at least another week, according to coach Karl Harrison.

"It looked a bad tackle to me and was totally uncalled for,'' said Harrison, who was nevertheless delighted with his team's Arriva Trains Cup win.

Either Steve Blakely or youngster Karl Fitzpatrick will fill in for Clinch, while Harrison will ask prop Neil Baynes to undergo a late fitness test before naming his side.

"It was nice to win the Arriva Trains Trophy, but it's not the main aim this season. That comes later,'' said Harrison.

"This could be a tricky game for us because I feel that Hull KR could well be an outsider for a place in the Grand Final,'' said Harrison.

The Robins look set to be without ex-Salford centre Nick Pinkney and Craig Poucher, while former international forward Dean Busby has only an outside chance of making the kick-off.

But ex-Great Britain prop Harvey Howard and centre Paul Parker have passed fitness tests and will play. Coach Steve Linnane is also distancing himself from a possible deal with front row man Brad Hepi.

"We have another prop lined up to sign for the club, explained club official Nick Halafihi.

DEWSBURY RAMS v WHITEHAVEN

STRUGGLING Dewsbury have been handed a boost ahead of their home game against Whitehaven on Sunday.

Prop Paul Smith and centre Kevin Crouthers have been allowed a further month's loan stay by their respective clubs Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves, giving coach Andy Fisher the opportunity to play one of his strongest sides. And with Jamie Benn coming through a fitness test on his damaged shoulder and scrum half Craig Niperess fit again, Fisher could well name both in his line-up too.

"We are missing the talents of Danny Wood, but Jamie's return should help to ease some of the pressure,'' said Fisher, who is battling to haul his side off the bottom rung of the National League One ladder.

"We all feel that we are not that far away from a win or two and hopefully that will kick-off on Sunday against Whitehaven,'' was Fisher's assessment of the Rams’ future.

Whitehaven are likely to be without centre David Seeds, who picked up a neck injury in the defeat at Rochdale.

"He is our biggest doubt by far,'' explained coach Steve McCormack, who could call up Craig Walsh as the automatic replacement if Seeds fails to recover.

"It's not going to be easy at Dewsbury. They are desperate to get a win under their belt and are always capable of a good performance on their home soil and we have got to bounce back from that defeat at Rochdale,'' added McCormack, who was delighted to see ex-Workington hooker Carl Sice back in full training this week.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v BATLEY BULLDOGS

ENTHUSIASTIC coach St John Ellis should have at least three key players back from injury to face Batley. Craig Horne, Scott Grix and Gareth Handforth have all come through training this week, but Chris Ross and Jason Lee may need another week before they are fit to resume, according to Ellis.

Ex-Halifax prop Anthony Seuseu picked up a facial injury in the win over Featherstone, but has fully recovered following the week break, while the Dragons second newcomer PJ Solomon is set to make his second appearance in a Doncaster jersey since switching from London Skolars.

"We have a few permutations we can use if needs be,'' said Ellis, who has released front row forward Brad Hepi from his contract with the club. Batley have lost the services of prop Ryan McDonald, who has returned to Widnes Vikings following his on-loan spell with the Bulldogs.

"We would love to have him back with us, but I don't think that will happen,'' explained coach Paul Storey, who will promote either Joe Naidole or Joe Berry to the vacant prop spot.

"Doncaster are going well at the moment and are always a difficult side to beat at home,'' said Storey, who is desperate to find some winning form.

OLDHAM v FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

TEAM boss Steve Molloy is ready to make sweeping changes to his Oldham side for the game against Featherstone. Molloy was far from happy with his side's performance in the 58-14 hammering the received against Rochdale and is threatening to leave some of the "better known players'' out of his plans.

"I would like to think we can turn things round the way we did when we beat Leigh,'' said Molloy, who was given a lift in confidence when prop Martin McLoughlin passed a fitness test on a facial injury.

Featherstone will be without back rower Paul Darley, who was handed a two-match ban for an incident in the win over Rochdale two weeks ago.

Coach Andy Kelly could, therefore, either promote Andrew Jarrett or hand trialist Paul Smith the bench role, but he may have to search even further for replacements if Brendan O'Meara (shoulder) and co-centre Ian Brown (ankle) fail to respond to treatment.

"The game with Oldham presents us with another opportunity to shrug off our away day blues and try to build on our excellent home form,'' said Kelly.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO

BARROW RAIDERS v LONDON SKOLARS

RAIDERS coach Cameron Bell has been rocked by the news that ace winger Paul Salmon is out for the remainder of the season with a foot injury.

Salmon, who left Barrow to join Widnes Vikings 18 months ago, has been diagnosed with a broken bone in his foot following the game against Hunslet Hawks 10 days ago.

"It's an old injury that hadn't been detected and that has been his problem all along. Paul is really sick about the whole issue, because he has been told that he probably needs a bone graft to rectify the injury. But it more or less finishes him for the season,'' explained coach Bell, who also has to cater for the possibility of four of his key players missing the home game with London because of a flu virus that has hit the club.

The virus has affected all Chris Archer, James King, Adam Pate and Andrew Henderson, leaving Bell to contemplate bringing in Ian Devlin, Wayne Jones and Paul Evans as last-minute replacements.

But there is better news about dynamic hooker Dave Clark, who resumed full training this week and could return to action in two to three weeks time.

Bottom club Skolars are still searching for their first win of the season and face a difficult trip to Barrow, with coach Mark Croston still determined to halt the run of defeats.

CHORLEY LYNX v WORKINGTON TOWN

CHORLEY welcomes back Dave Ingram and John Braddish for the home game against Workington.

But prop Lee Rowley is unavailable and that could force coach Darren Abram to continue using Martin Roden as one of his front row men.

The loss of experienced forward Dave Whittle, who faces surgery following his knee dislocation against Barrow Raiders, leaves Abram a little short-handed for front row forwards. And that could prove crucial against Workington.

"With Workington having got their first win for a while, they will come to Chorley full of determination. So I'm expecting a tough game,'' said coach Abram.

Town hope to have ex-Barrow and Whitehaven winger Glen Hutton signed up in time for the match and have also got hooker Darren King on loan from Whitehaven until the end of the season.

Robust prop Ricky Wright has handed coach Billy McGinty a boost by resuming training this week, but trialist halfback Sean Boylan looks set to miss the trip to Chorley with a damaged cheekbone. Craig Fisher is also a doubt with a groin strain.

GATESHEAD THUNDER v HUNSLET HAWKS

THUNDER have re-signed prop Sam Tunnell and centre Steve Morton until the end of the season and both figure in coach Paul Fletcher's plans for the game against Hunslet.

"We are down to the bare bones again now that three players have gone to Australia on a short tour,'' said Fletcher.

Prop David Bates has had a knee operation to clear the "debris'' and will be out of action for at least a month, but Fletcher has taken ex-Sheffield hooker Mark Gibson on trial and he is on standby for the game.

The Hawks will be without utility forward Jonlee Lockwood, while fullback Richard Baker has a slender chance of making the kick off following his shoulder injury. Andy Brent and Steve Doherty both came through a fitness check in midweek and are included in coach Roy Sampson's plans.

"We need to win our next two games or we could lose our top four spot,'' warned coach Sampson.

SWINTON LIONS v SHEFFIELD EAGLES

LIONS boss Peter Roe has a worry over his front row ahead of the crucial game with promotion contenders Sheffield.

Wes Rogers, on loan from Rochdale, is struggling with a knee injury, while Chris Roe, who escaped without a ban after an appearance in front of the Disciplinary Committee this week has an ankle injury.

Roe will probably go with Simon Knox and Australian Danny Tyres, but he has the added luxury of Wayne English and Rob Russell returning from suspension. Jason Roach is back from holiday, but fullback Mark Saunders is doubtful with damaged ribs. Sheffield, who will want to avenge their home defeat by Swinton and thus avoid a "double reverse'', have clinched the signing of promising forward Jordan James and Irish winger Carl De Chenu.

Coach Mark Aston is delighted with the moves and believes that both will play a big part in the Eagles' future.

"Jordan has just finished serving with the Royal Marines in Iraq and has moved up here from his base in Plymouth. He is out of the Services now, so we feel it's the right time to bring him into the set-up and put him on an 18-month contract,'' said Aston.

With prop Damien Whitter coming through his return test with no added problems and Richard Goddard back in full training, Sheffield are close to a clean bill of health.

YORK CITY KNIGHTS v KEIGHLEY COUGARS

WITH fullback Chris Smith ruled out for the remainder of the season, York coach Paul Broadbent will leave the No 1 shirt with ex-Hull KR and Dewsbury winger Alex Godfrey for the home game against top of the table Keighley.

"Alex is a very good stand-in, but we are bound to miss someone of the quality of Chris,'' said Broadbent, who has urged his players to put the defeat at Chorley to the back of their minds.

"We didn't play well at Chorley, but that's is all in the past now. The important thing is that we do a good job against Keighley on Sunday,'' said Broadbent.

The Cougars select from a full squad, according to team boss Gary Moorby, apart from prop Phil Stephenson. He is serving a two-match suspension after being put on report for fighting in the game against Swinton Lions. Richard Mervill or Chris Hannah will fill in the front row vacancy, but Moorby states that he will miss Stephenson's leadership.

"He is the anchor man in our pack,'' said Moorby. But new signing Scott Parkin, who Moorby snapped up from Old Brodleians Rugby Union Club, misses his chance to win a squad place because he is away on honeymoon.

"His wife told me he is really upset about missing the opportunity, but there will be another chance for him here,'' said Moorby, who feels this could be Keighley's most important fixture of the season so far.