Both teams in Sunday’s big derby game at Derwent Park can draw on more than the usual 17 players during the game.
Although the initial agreement between Workington Town and Haven had been to restrict the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy clash to the normal match-day numbers, the coaches have had a rethink.
Workington Town’s coach Chris Thorman said: “I’ve had a word with Jonty as it made sense to increase numbers because of the players who were unavailable through COVID last week.
We had nine missing at Barrow and eight of those are available for Sunday.
“I have got to do right by my squad and what’s right for my players so it will be a different look to the line-up and I will go with 20/21 in the squad.
“The people who didn’t feature at Barrow will certainly feature heavily against Whitehaven.
“We used three trialists at Barrow and they all did their community clubs proud. We will continue to monitor their progress and analyse them in training.
“I’ve said since I first came to the club we need a strong core of local Cumbrian players and that’s what we did last season. It’s what we are going to continue doing and I am confident it will eventually bring success in the Championship.”
Thorman, without nine of his squad, was happy with the performance at Barrow when the home side won 24-12.
He said: “It was pleasing for the first game as you don’t really know what to expect, but we went there with the right attitude.
“A number of players had to operate in positions where they haven’t trained or played in much and they really stood up which was especially pleasing.
“We didn’t pick up any injuries at Barrow and only have two long-term ones in Dave Weetman and Stevie Scholey, but it will be injuries throughout the season which challenges the depth of our squad.
“That’s why do a lot of stuff in the gym to build resistance in the players’ bodies and is something we will be doing a lot of again in the Championship.”
