The 19-man squad for the game:



22. James Clare – sponsored by Captain Hornblower, Papa Holmes and the Hornettes

14. Jay Pitts – sponsored by John Fountain

3. Adrian Purtell – sponsored by Brian Widdop

34. Richie Mathers – sponsored by O’Haras Limited

35. Rhys Lovegrove

4. Kris Welham – sponsored by Stuart Readyhough at Maclean and Company

6. Lee Gaskell – sponsored by Hudson Foster Financial Services

9. Adam O’Brien – sponsored by The Monro Family

10. Adam Sidlow – sponsored by Gareth and Ruth Rider

2. Omari Caro – sponsored by Jennifer Bennison

20. Mitch Clark – sponsored by Bradford Bulls Supporters Group

15. Matty Blythe – sponsored by Smith Harrison Sampling

13. Danny Addy – sponsored by Bear Boating Canal Boat Holidays

11. Tom Olbison – sponsored by C and K Wood

23. Alex Mellor – sponsored by The Top House

28. Kurt Haggerty – sponsored by Alexis Ridler

12. Dale Ferguson – sponsored In Memory of Helen Butterworth

30. Joe Lumb – sponsored by The Red Amber and Black Forum

1. Oscar Thomas – sponsored by The Pitchside Crew

I'd be tempted to have a bit of a shuffle around this week and give some of the fringe players a start...



1. Oscar Thomas

22. James Clare

3. Adrian Purtell

4. Kris Welham

2. Omari Caro

6. Lee Gaskell

13. Danny Addy

35. Rhys Lovegrove

9. Adam O’Brien

10. Adam Sidlow

15. Matty Blythe

23. Alex Mellor

14. Jay Pitts



30. Joe Lumb

20. Mitch Clark

11. Tom Olbison

28. Kurt Haggerty



Lumb on bench to give OB a breather.



Rest Mathers and Fergy for next week against Leigh.

By the look of him, Mathers needs exercise a lot more than he needs rest.



Mind you, I have actually been impressed with what he's done when he's played, he still looks very good for this league. Might turn out to have been a very canny signing, that.

I'd start Mathers as he clearly needs to get up to match speed, but I'd have Thomas on the bench and spell Mathers rather than shift him to the wing as it means Thomas gets some game time as the more game time the whole team gets the better as it is going forward

I would give Gaskell a day off and play Thomas on that plastic pitch. Putell can then switch to SO and move Thomas to FB when Mathers starts to drag his feet. We should be OK to deal with Swinton and still give one or two fringe players a run out otherwise they never get a game and all of a sudden it is the middle eights again. This must be the game to do it.

It's game three with Leigh the week after. I wouldn't be resting anyone. Let them rattle the rust out of their systems.

I have to agree with you, sir.

So Blythe in centre instead of Purtell?

I would like to see Thomas given a full run out and hopefully jimmy will spell Lumb... I won't hold my breathe for either though!

Yeah, I agree with that. I've criticised the non-rotations as much as anyone, but we've only played two games so, unless there are any bad knocks or strains, I'd go with pretty much the same again at this stage.

Plus, we really need to beat Leigh. It would make our season a whole lot easier if we did, and a whole lot harder if we didn't.

Agreed. Plus Leigh have a lot of injuries and their next games are London, us, Sheffield and fax. If we can beat them we'll be 2 wins clear and a little unrest might start to creep in. Big opportunity next week.



If we can get top and get the bottom team of SL at Odsal (at this stage looking like wakey again) that will be a big advantage than us going to Belle Vue again.



Next week isn't just another game. It could define our season IMO