Whitehaven coach Jonty Gorley admitted he didn’t sleep after Monday night’s last gasp drop goal defeat to Barrow.
But Gorley, and his squad, have to get back into game mode for a difficult trip to London and a match tomorrow against the in-form Broncos.
“I think it was the fact that it was a derby game and how we lost it that affected me on Monday. It was our mistakes which gave them the win because I think we deserved at least a point.
“But we have to get it together again for Sunday against a Broncos side who are probably the form team in the Championship. They are a side who concentrate on the basics of the game but they do them better than anyone else.
“We have some injury concerns but at least we will be going down there better prepared than we were for the Challenge Cup tie in London earlier in the season.
“Everything was rushed and that was reflected in the performance and the result. This time it’s going to be more leisurely, relaxed and we will have time to fit in a video session on Sunday morning at our hotel,” he said.
Ryan King is the most notable absentee as he limped out of the Barrow game with a knee injury which could signal the end of his season. The Australian, who is an Italian international, has been a stand-out performer since rejoining Haven earlier in the season.
He has been named in the 21 for the game but won’t be involved in the final 17 as he is to have a scan on the damaged knee. Former Kells prop Ross Ainley is not included after taking a knock against Barrow.
Josh Rourke “is being wrapped in cotton wool” but will play while Guy Graham and Perry Singleton had issues in training on Thursday.
The 21 named are: Dave Eccleston, Chris Taylor, Curtis Teare, Karl Dixon, Connor Holliday, Lachlan Lanskey, Dion Aiye, Jamie Doran, James Newton, Lasarusa Tabu, Guy Graham, Perry Singleton, Ryan King, Lucas Castle, Josh Rourke, Daniel Spencer-Tonks, Oscar Doran, Jake Carter, George Hill, Will Groves, Brad Holroyd.
This season London have beaten Whitehaven twice – 32-10 in the Challenge Cup and 20-16 in their first away trip of the season.
The Broncos currently sit 6th in the Championship, eight points ahead of the Cumbrians who currently occupy 10th place in the league table.
