Workington Town play their third successive away game on Sunday when they travel to last season’s League One rivals Rochdale Hornets.
Rochdale have started the season with two victories – 12-8 at Swinton Lions in the Championship and then 60-6 in the Challenge Cup at amateurs Waterhead.
They have recruited well and were still adding this week when forward Isaac Reed joined on loan from Warrington Wolves.
Hornets share with Rochdale football club and the old Spotland pitch has been dug up, drained and laid with fresh turf with work to recommence at the end of the rugby season.
Town lost their opening Championship game 40-0 at Barrow and last week got past amateurs Blackbrook 28-6 in the Challenge Cup.
There are two changes to the 21-man squad from last week with Guy Graham and Oscar Doran coming in for Stevie Scholey and Tobias Gibson.
Coach Jonty Gorley admitted: “I’ve had a headache picking the squad this week, which isn’t a bad thing but lads left out this week will get their chance. We only have two long-term injuries in Jamie Doran and Jack Stephenson’
“It’s going to be tough because Rochdale have strengthened well. They have some big, powerful forwards, two experienced halves and the back three are lightning quick.”
Town’s 21 – R. Ainley, Bradley, Butterworth, Lewthwaite, Carter, Castle, Corkill, Donaghy, O. Doran, Farrer, Fulton, Galea, Gittens-Bedward, Graham, Leigh, Lupton, Phillips, Rawhiti, Reid, Williams, Wear.
Rochdale squad – Andrade, Ashton, Boyd, Dallimore, Flanagan, Hatton, Hickey, Holmes, Kelly-Duffy, Lloyd, Lynch, Metcalfe, Nixon, Punchard, Reid, Sa’u, Syme, Waterworth, Whitmore, Will, Wood.
