No game for Hornets this week but there are others, Stan Townsend previews this weekend’s Arriva Trains Cup quarterfinals.

Arriva Trains Cup

BATLEY BULLDOGS v WHITEHAVEN
THE probable loss of the dazzling wing partnership of Danny Maun and Adrian Flynn could prove crucial for Batley as the prepare to meet high fliers Whitehaven in the Arriva Trains Cup quarter final play-offs. Flying winger Flynn has "little or no chance'' of making the kick-off, according to Bulldogs coach Gary Thornton, while Maun created another worry by reporting a hamstring injury.

"We will make a decision after Thursday night's training session, but it's not looking too good for either player,'' revealed Thornton, who has the luxury of being able to switch Aussie Shad Royston off the bench to shore up the centre berth if needs be.

Sharp running Royston, scorer of a brace of tries against Oldham on his return from a shoulder injury, is one obvious choice, but who will take over from Flynn could be a little more complicated.

"It's going to be a cracker of a game. Whitehaven are going well at the moment, while we need to redress the balance after they over-turned us in the Powergen Challenge Cup earlier this year,'' said Thornton.

"That was one of our worst performances of the season and while it prompted a run of eight games unbeaten, the players will want to make up for the previous match,'' agreed Thornton.

Whitehaven have a fistful of problems, none more worrying that play maker Leroy Joe. With David Seeds, Spencer Miller, Howard Hill, Carl Sice and Craig Walsh also in need of daily treatment, it leaves coach Steve McCormack with more than a headache or two.

The purposeful win at Hull KR was to blame for the ruck of injuries, forcing McCormack to have Gary Purdham, Chris McKinney, Ryan Campbell and Lee Kiddie all on day-to-day standby.

"That was our first win on Hull KR soil for about nine or ten years, which made it all that more pleasing.

"But Batley are playing with extra confidence and are going really well at the moment. So I can't say this will be anything like as easy as last time,'' forecast a more than cagey McCormack

DONCASTER DRAGONS v HULL KR
UPBEAT Doncaster are buzzing again and ready to take on the challenge of Hull KR in their Arriva Trains Cup clash.

Coach St John Ellis was more at ease after they toppled mighty Leigh last week and feels that the Dragons could go a step further in this competition.

"I was well pleased with the way we dealt with Leigh. Our application was much better than against Featherstone the previous week. We kept our discipline well and feel that we will be a difficult side to beat on our home ground,'' he said.

But with front rower Matt Walker and centre PJ Solomon both suspended by the Rugby League disciplinary committee on Tuesday evening it leaves the Dragons a touch short on experience in both positions. Wayne Green comes back into contention as does centre Gareth Lloyd, who reported fit again after a long spell out with a facial injury. With front row man Gareth Handford still serving a suspension, it could force Ellis to call on a couple of his Academy players to bolster his bench.

"We have a mid-week Academy game against Dewsbury which will give me the chance to assess the situation again,'' said Ellis, who has signed Sharlston amateurs Carl Sayer and Dan Grimshaw to bolster his Academy squad.

Hull KR continued their unpredictable form with a home defeat by Whitehaven last Sunday, which leaves coach Martin Hall with some hard thinking before the Doncaster fixture. With Dale Holdstock not fully recovered from a broken hand; Andy Smith carrying a leg injury and both Marvin Golden and Matt Calland definitely ruled out, the Robins' team boss is expected to call up Lynton Stott and Craig Farrell as two possible replacements.

Director of Rugby Phil Lowe added his thoughts to the situation by stating: "Present form suggests that we will struggle at Doncaster unless we pick up our game quite considerably.

"It was a bitter disappointment to lose to Whitehaven the way we did. Only the players can rectify the matter. It's in their hands,'' said Lowe.

BARROW RAIDERS v LEIGH CENTURIONS
KEY playmaker Darren Holt could be ruled out of Barrow coach Peter Roe's plans as they prepare to face much-fancied Leigh in the Arriva Trains Cup. Holt has picked up a niggling back injury and that could force him to sit the game out, according to Roe, who could also be without ex-York and Gateshead Thunder centre Damien Reed, who has damaged ribs.

"We are running on a small squad, so injuries like this are always worrying,'' said Roe, whose Barrow side heads the LHF National League Two table on points difference from York City Knights and Sheffield Eagles.

"It will be interesting to see how we cope with a team from a higher division. This is a one-off game, so the lads are pretty relaxed about it,'' said Roe.

Leigh could well be minus their main trio of Tommy Martyn, John Duffy and Ian Knott for the second week running. Coach Darren Abram, floored by a flu bug, could therefore be forced to name the same side that lost at Doncaster, although top points scorer Neil Turley is one welcome addition after he returned from a short honeymoon in the Lake District.

Coaching assistant Martyn believes that the Centurions could be in for a "hard time'' at Barrow.

"They have nothing to lose, whereas we have got to turn round a poor performance at Doncaster very quickly. Everyone, including the fans were extremely disappointed with the way we lost at Doncaster, so we must improve our all-round effort.

"The Barrow coach Peter Roe will have his players well tuned in for this game,'' said Martyn.

HALIFAX v YORK CITY KNIGHTS
TROUBLED Halifax could do with a win to settle their nerves and see the home game with Division Two side York in the Arriva Trains as providing the right inspiration.

Caretaker-coach Anthony Farrell is repeatedly venting his frustrations with his charges and lives in hope that the next match could be his and sorry Halifax's salvation. First choice forward Chris Morley is ruled out, but ex-Leigh centre Alan Hadcroft is on the brink of returning from a knee injury that has sidelined him since mid-April. Ged Corcoran and promising youngster Simon Grix were having a mid-week run-out in the same Academy team so the gloom could well start to lift a little by weekend.

"We need a win. Any win will do to keep the spectators interested. They are starting to drift away, which isn't good for the club,'' said club official Mick Scott. York will certainly prove a stiff test for Halifax. They continue to bamboozle most sides and scored a big win over another of the National League Two promotion challengers Swinton Lions.

"This game against Halifax is an opportunity to pit our wits against a top side and a club that was recently in the Tetley's Super League.

"We are not worrying too much about Halifax even though we start as underdogs. They have got off to a jittery start to the season and must be seeing this game as their chance to get their game on track,'' said York coach Richard Agar, who brings Dan Briggs and Mick Ramsden into his plans for the injured scrum half Jimmy Elston (knee) and foraging prop Yusuf Sozi (ankle).