Sunday’s clash at the LEL Arena between Whitehaven and Newcastle Thunder has long been viewed as a four pointer.
Victories at York and Barrow, however, have give the Cumbrians a cushion of points over their North East visitors which will make them more determined to put more daylight between them.
Head coach Jonty Gorley has named a squad of 20 for the game with Jake Bradley, Sam Freeman and Marcus O’Brien absentees after last week’s fine win at Barrow.
Bradley has moved to Workington Town on loan while the other two are nursing injuries.
The loss of O’Brien meant Gorley was left with just one recognised hooker in James Newton, which is why he’s brought Connor Saunders into the squad on loan from Barrow.
Hard working forward Liam McAvoy is also fit enough to be restored to the squad.
Gorley has named: Dave Eccleston, Curtis Teare, Karl Dixon, Alex Bishop, Liam McAvoy, Tom Walker, Connor Holliday, Lachlan Lanskey, Dion Aiye, Jamie Doran, James Newton, Lasaruba Tabu, Guy Graham, Perry Singleton, Ryan King, Lucas Castle, Josh Rourke, Daniel Spencer-Tonks, Ross Ainley, Connor Saunders.
Nikau Williams, Curtis Davies and Marcus Walker who played for Whitehaven last season are in the Newcastle squad named by coach Chris Thorman.
Full-back Max Flanagan returns to the squad as well as Nathan Clemmitt and Gideon Boafo but former Workington winger Alex Young misses out with a broken rib sustained in the Good Friday game with Sheffield.
The squad is: Jack Johnson, Marcus Walker, Alex Clegg, Alex Donaghy, Nikau Williams, Jay Chapelhow, Curtis Davies, Mitch Clark, Alex Foster, Connor Bailey, Denive Balmforth, Ted Chapelhow, Rhys Clarke, Robert Tuliatu, Nathan Clemmitt, Gideon Boafo, Jake Anderson, Max Flanagan, Jack Miller, Matthew Laidlaw, Nick Staveley.
