Stan Townsend previews this weekend's round of Northern Rail Cup fixtures... (From Warrington Guardian)

Stan Townsend previews this weekend's round of Northern Rail Cup fixtures...

FRIDAY - BLACKPOOL PANTHERS v SWINTON LIONS: AUSTRALIAN centre Glen Godbee and former Great Britain international prop Steve Molloy are virtually ruled out of Coach Mark Lee's plans for the Northern Rail Cup game against Swinton at Bloomfield Road.

Godbee, scorer of two scintillating tries against Oldham last week, has a dislocated shoulder, while Molloy picked up to a cut head and broken nose in the same match against his former club.

"That's two massive blows,'' said Panthers coach Lee, who has brought in Eddie Kilgallon, Steve Ormesher, Jake Johnson and Gareth Jones to add to his squad plans.

Swinton will run a check on several injuries ahead of the match with Coach Paul Kidd having Chris Irwin and Ian Hodson on standby.

"It was good to get off to a winning start against Rochdale, but it's important that we back up that win against Blackpool,'' said Kidd.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v SHEFFIELD EAGLES

DRAGONS boss St John Ellis will demand a more disciplined performance in the South Yorkshire derby against Sheffield and plans to shake up his team in the process.

"We let ourselves down last week against Batley with some indiscipline. We need to eradicate our mistakes very quickly,'' said Ellis, who will look to ex-Dewsbury, Rochdale and Hunslet Hawks scrum half Latham Tawhai for some inspiration round the rucks this time out.

Tawhai, along with former Hull FC hooker Craig Cook are included in Doncaster's squad, while the Eagles have brought in Welsh stand off Aled James and former Halifax second rower Jaymes Chapman.

"Doncaster will be a big challenge for the players. They have numerous ex-Super League players in their ranks and that will test our character to the hilt,'' said Sheffield coach Mark Aston, whose side got off to a flier against Dewsbury last week.

SATURDAY

BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL v WARRINGTON WIZARDS

CENTRE Jack Bradbury and utility forward Gaz Walker are expected to figure highly in Dudley Hill's plans for their home game with fellow National League Three side Warrington Wizards.

With Neil Innes still turning out for West Bowling, Welsh international winger Jason Lee has reverted to fullback.

The Wizards have Lee Rushton and Sean Geritas unavailable, while Chris Mellor is ruled out with a broken ankle.

Coach Eddie Harris, therefore, brings in Dave Kelly, Matt Patterson, Aussie Dave Simkin and Matt Wilson.

SUNDAY

DEWSBURY RAMS v BATLEY BULLDOGS

FORMER Bradford and Hull forward Warren Jowitt is set to return to the Dewsbury pack for their Northern Rail Cup clash with Batley.

Jowitt missed the defeat at Sheffield with a shoulder injury, but Coach Andy Kelly is set to name him along with Aussie stand off Kurt Rudder.

Darren Rogers and Paul Seal are still on the injured list as Coach Kelly plans to turn his side round by taking the scalp of neighbours Batley, who they beat in the annual friendly on Boxing Day.

"There is no need to panic yet. We had an off day at Sheffield and lost too much possession,'' said Kelly, who will be the first to congratulate ex-Super League back Francis Maloney should he score his 100th try on Sunday.

"Ryan and Francis have yet to click into gear, but I don't think that is too far away,'' said Kelly.

The Bulldogs may be forced to hand ex-Batley Boys fullback Aidan Lister his first start, should the experienced Craig Lingard fail a late fitness check.

Lister spent some time on loan with Huddersfield Giants Under 21 age group team last season, but Coach Gary Thornton feels he is ready to make his first-team bow at Batley.

With prop David Rourke, Gary Shilabee and Mark Sibson all in danger of missing the start, Joe Barry, Steve Beard, Ryan Horsley and Lister are pencilled into Thornton's plans.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v CASTLEFORD TIGERS

IT'S more than a decade since Rovers met former Super League side Tigers in a competitive match, so Featherstone coach Gary Price sees this as his biggest test yet.

"It's important that we play the game and not the occasion. Castleford are still a big side with a good reputation,'' warned Price, who is still unsure about his line-up, but adds Danny Evans, James Houston, Andy Jarrett and winger James Ford to his squad.

Rovers overcame Hunslet last week, but Price has no doubts that Castleford will be a totally different kettle of fish.

With Coach David Woods formulating a strong squad and Castleford fans set to turn out in force yet again, the Tigers must start as favourites to win all this season's competitions.

"We are selecting from the same 17 that beat York City Knights,'' revealed Aussie coach Woods, who sees no need to change a winning line-up.

"We intend to play good footy and keep it tight in the middle,'' said Woods, who has singled out Featherstone halfback Josh Weedon as the player he fears most.

GATESHEAD THUNDER v WORKINGTON TOWN

THUNDER coach Dean Thomas will warn his players about possible complacency ahead of the home game with Workington.

"It's back to reality after the win at Barrow.'' said Thomas, who has utility player Ian Brown back from injury, along with halfback Craig Firth and Liam Garside.

"There are a couple more players who will come into the reckoning before Sunday,'' said upbeat Thomas, who is still on a high following their shock 35-28 win at Barrow.

Workington, who scored a sensational 28-8 win over rivals Whitehaven last week, are still set to make wholesale changes with Andrew Fearon, Matt Woodcock, Scott Chilton, Mally Caton, Dean Burgess and James Robinson all in coach Gerard Stokes' team plans.

Martyn Wilson, Matt Johnson, Steve Dawes, Matt Tunstall and Brett Smith are set to miss the clash through injury.

HALIFAX v LONDON SKOLARS

DASHING Welsh international forward Chris Morley is set to return to the Halifax line-up for the return clash with London Skolars.

The ex-Leigh and Oldham second row forward is back to fitness again and will line-up alongside Dave Larder, with another former Leigh favourite Pat Weisner at loose forward.

Having denied the London side a score in last week's 40-0 drubbing, Halifax look set to beat that tally, albeit that they are still without Andy Hobson, Ryan McDonald and Dean Lawford.

Ex-Bradford prop Jason Boults retains his place in the pack, while teenager Scott Law could clinch a place on the bench as Coach Anthony Farrell delays his final team selection decision.

Skolars are still minus Ben Joyce with a shoulder injury. However, Brett Blaker has recovered from a knee injury and 26-year-old ex-Southend rugby union centre Alan Barker poised to make his debut having been included in the squad to travel.

"This is our chance to put things right after last week's performance,'' said joint coach Marcus Tobin.

HULL KR v KEIGHLEY COUGARS

COOK Islander Byron Ford is on line to make his bow for Hull KR, but Coach Harvey Howard has yet to decide his best place in the side.

"He can play wing, fullback and centre,'' said Football Director Phil Lowe, who feels that the Robins must take more care in defence if they are to achieve the double over Keighley.

"They scored three tries off kicks. We were very slack in that department,'' revealed Lowe.

The Cougars could welcome back prop Danny Ekis from injury, while ex-Featherstone winger Andrew Jackson and returnee Paul Ashton are added to coach Gary Moorby's plans.

"We are in confident mood after our performance at Hull KR last week, so the pressure is definitely on them to play better,'' said Moorby, whose side lost 26-27 at Cougar Park.

ROCHDALE HORNETS v OLDHAM

UTILITY forward Rob Ball and stand off Radney Bowker could battle their way into Hornets line-up for the derby clash with Oldham.

Bowker is the least likely to play, with Coach Bobbie Goulding reluctant to risk him, unless he is forced to gamble.

Both missed the disappointing defeat at Swinton last week, which left coach Goulding foaming at the mouth.

"Our kicking game went to pieces in the second half,'' admitted Goulding, has ruled himself out for this important clash.

"There are rumours that I am ready to start playing again, but that's rubbish. I have a good squad of players who must get first choice,'' said Goulding, who has Lee Hansen, Dave Cunliffe and Chris Radcliffe also on standby.

Oldham are set to name another new signing in their side, with Cook Islander Jonathan Wilson arriving at the club in mid-week.

The 21-year-old prop could well start the game on the bench, unless Coach Gary Mercer decides to thrust him in at the deep end.

With Jon Goddard out with a broken hand and Mark Roberts, Simon Houghton and Andy Isherwood all sporting niggling injuries, Mercer is bound to leave his final decision to the morning of the match.

WHITEHAVEN v BARROW RAIDERS

WINGER Wesley Wilson and prop Mark Cox face a fitness race ahead of the home game with Barrow.

Wilson has a rib injury while Cox twisted an ankle in the shock defeat at Workington.

"We put ourselves up there after last year's performances and naturally everyone wants to shoot us down, but we were garbage against Workington. We were our own worst enemies,'' admitted Coach Steve McCormack, who will also run a fitness check on forward Chris McKinney.

Barrow have Joel Osborn and Richard Colley both doubtful for the clash, but on-loan forward Chris Roe looks set to take up a place on the bench after recovering from an eye injury.

Coach Peter Roe is struggling to name 17 fit players for the game and may add Mike Whitehead to his team plans on Sunday.

"Losing to Gateshead last week was totally reflective of what is going on at Barrow. We are really struggling with injuries,'' confessed coach Roe.

YORK CITY KNIGHTS v HUNSLET HAWKS

WINGER Austin Buchanan looks set for a long lay-off, unless X-Rays on his arm show to the contrary.

Coach Mick Cook has already ruled him out of Sunday's game against Hunslet stating that he is concerned that Buchanan may have a broken arm.

"It doesn't look too good at the moment,'' said Cook, who has also ruled out Scott Rhodes, Craig Forsyth and Chris Spurr, through injury.

Former Gateshead Thunder back Neil Thorman is available as is Chris Ross, while John Liddell could well play against his former club.

The Hawks have lost the unfortunate Guy Adams for the remainder of the season after he dislocated his shoulder in training.

"The injury will probably need pinning,'' revealed coach Roy Sampson, who has also lost ex-Sheffield prop Andy Brent, who needed emergency surgery to remove a suspected blood clot in his leg this week.

George Rayner is missing after having 16 stitches in a mouth wound, while Andy Barstow has a badly bruised arm.

But Sampson is hopeful that Dave Gibbons (hamstring), Neil Mears (flu) and Mick Gibbons (ankle) could pass late fitness tests.

"I may be forced to have some players with niggling injuries on the bench. We had 12 players out of action this week,'' said Sampson.