Whitehaven insist they want to stick to the Saturday date for their opening away game in the Betfred Championship this coming season.
At Leigh’s request the first game of the campaign was moved 24 hours to January 29 when the rest of the Championship start on the Sunday.
But since then Leigh have asked the West Cumbrians if they would revert back to the Sunday at their Sports Village Stadium.
Whitehaven team manager Des Byrne said: “We have told them that we are sticking to their original request to play on the Saturday.
“Arrangements have been made to release certain players from shift work that day. It’s hard enough going to Leigh with a full team so we don’t want to have players missing through work.
“The supporters have booked three coaches for the Saturday so that could cause problems as well.”
Whitehaven will welcome their six overseas players this week – four Australians and two New Zealanders, Ryan King and Nikau Williams are returning from last season while Will Evans, Josh Martin, Alex Bishop and Geronimo Doyle.
Byrne said: “We are looking forward to seeing them all and I’m sure they will have a big part to play in what we are about this season.”
King and Williams were important members of last season’s squad which climbed to sixth in the table, while a third overseas recruit Lachlan Walmsley was one of the Championship stars and has since joined Halifax.
