Whitehaven officials will be scanning the terraces as much as the field tomorrow when they host Midlands Hurricanes in the Championship.
Featherstone and Halifax were lost to the Championship this season although the Panthers have just been revived with a new group in charge.
Whitehaven don’t want to go down that route with the genuine fear if the club was lost under the present economic climate it would not return.
So, seeing a significant improved attendance tomorrow would be a step in the right direction tomorrow – as well as a follow-up win to the 20-0 success against Rochdale.
Strength and condition coach James Newton has been named interim coach following the departure of Anthony Murray, and he will be assisted by the previous number two Neil Frazer who was happy to stay second in command.
Newton has made one change from the 21 that were on duty against Rochdale last week. Liam Williamson comes in for Jake Pearce who is unavailable this week.
Newton said: “I think the difference last week was how well we started. In previous games we have shipped points early and have been virtually out of the game at this level.
“I always wanted to coach and this has come earlier than I expected but the Whitehaven fans can rest assured that Gus and I are going to give it our best shot.”
The squad is: Bickerdike, Brennan, Brown, Turnbull, Eccleston, Holgate, Holliday, Kellett, Lowe, McQuistan, Newbegin, Nixon, B. Pearce, Williamson, Smith, Thomson, Todd, Walker-Taylor, Walker, Weatherill, Woodend.
