Hornets, who have won thirteen of their last fifteen games have an injury doubt over star prop Danny Sculthorpe who has been ever present this season, while winger Marlon Billy missed last week's home win over Batley only to see his deputy, Wayne McHugh, score two tries. Hornets' experienced centre Matt Calland is also a man in form having scored a try in each of his last six games and his partnership with captain Brendan O'Meara has provided vital stability in the Hornets midfield. Since losing at home to Villeneuve in the cup at the end of February, Hornets have strung together seven successive wins at Spotland as they chase a top four finish.
Whitehaven coach Paul Cullen was still raving about the quality of last Sunday's game against Dewsbury as he prepared for the trip to Spotland "It was an outstanding game of Rugby League and both sides produced some breathtaking play," Cullen said. "Dewsbury are the biggest side that we have played this year but our young players like Gary Smith and Spencer Miller took them on and our captain, Aaron Lester, was superb and was the man of the match by a country mile."
Cullen, who has been pleased by the impact made by the experienced newcomers Jason Critchley and Jason Roach, is looking forward to Sunday. "We can't wait for it, we have beaten them once already this year and that was a real turning point in our season," he added. "But they are a quality football team and have some very good players.
"We have only had one game this season when we haven't travelled well, at Leigh. Other than that we have had a good record away from home."