Championship ready for big kick-off

SATURDAY

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE v DEWSBURY RAMS

Olympique head coach Gilles Dumas has set his sights on a top six finish in this year's Co-operative Championship.

Toulouse begin their second season in the competition with a home fixture against promoted Dewsbury on Saturday.

Dumas said: "Last year we were heading for the play-offs until about five days from the end.

"We let too many matches get away from us in the last few minutes and missed too many bonus points."

Luke Menzies (back) is struggling to be fit for Warren Jowitt's Dewsbury side.

Jowitt said: "We could have done without the little blip against Halifax but things have gone pretty well for us.

"We're where we want to be at this moment in time but there's still a lot of improvement in us and we'll have to learn and adapt for the Co-operative Championship. It's a lot quicker and you're playing against a better calibre of player.

"Having said that, I put a team together last year that I thought would be able to compete in this division - now we've just got to get into the swing of it."

SUNDAY

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v BATLEY BULLDOGS

Rovers coach Daryl Powell is expected to make a number of changes after Featherstone's midweek victory over Rochdale.

Powell's men are facing four games in two weeks after the adverse weather wreaked havoc on their Northern Rail Cup games.

Powell said: "The Batley game has great significance for us. We need to do well in the league, starting at home on Sunday."

Bulldogs' coach Karl Harrison has warned his squad that their impressive form in the Northern Rail Cup counts for nothing when they travel to the Bigfellas Stadium on Sunday.

Harrison said: "We're a little bit ahead of other teams at the moment, and things have gone reasonably well.

"It's been a pretty fair effort so far, but the main thing is that Batley stays in the Co-operative Championship."

HALIFAX v SHEFFIELD EAGLES

Makali Aizue could make his Halifax debut in their Co-operative Championship opener on Sunday – but only if his visa application is processed in the next two days.

Dominic Maloney could also feature for 'Fax after recovering from a hernia operation.

Eagles coach Mark Aston has also been hit with a major blow, after news emerged that Fijian half back Aaron Groom is likely to spend up to two months sidelined with a knee injury.

Groom has only played eight games for the Eagles after another knee problem wiped out most of last season.

But Aston remains buoyant ahead of the start of the league campaign. He said: "It's about time that we started the league season how we finish it and that's the challenge for us.

"We need to make sure we don't start by winning just two games out of the first eight.

"We're capable of achieving anything this year. We've got a great group with a really good attitude and I'm sure we'll have a successful season again."

WIDNES VIKINGS v KEIGHLEY COUGARS

Vikings will have to cope without winger Shaun Ainscough after he joined Castleford Tigers on a month-long loan deal.

Widnes coach Paul Cullen said: "It dovetails very nicely for us because we now have several of our own players either ready or very close to a return from injury."

Paddy Flynn remains a week away from fitness while Steve Pickersgill and Gareth Haggerty are also doubtful. However, Richard Varkulis is available for selection.

Cougars coach Barry Eaton is hoping for good news on Danny Jones (forearm) and Dalley Williams (back) ahead of his side's first game in the Co-operative Championship.

Last year Keighley earned promotion from Co-operative Championship One and Eaton has acknowledged the step up in competition.

He said: "One of the reasons we brought in a new conditioner is because of the difference in strength and athletic ability at Championship level.

"There are lots of players who have played in Super League for many years who are playing in the Championship. There are also dual registration players involved. It's a big step up, certainly in terms of preparation and the way players are looked after."

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP ONE

HUNSLET HAWKS v GATESHEAD THUNDER

Hawks coach Paul March will add extra power to his bench for Sunday's Co-operative Championship One opener.

March explained: "I've carried a hooker on the bench in most games I've coached but this week I'm looking to carry an extra forward and give Chappy (Richard Chapman) most of the 80 minutes.

"It's a new idea for us, seeing how we can cope with just one hooker out there. It's about our performance and if we keep putting something right each week then we're heading in the right direction."

Steve Dooler will take Tom Haughey's place in the starting line up, with Haughey dropping to the bench and Gareth Firm missing out.

Gateshead are likely to give a debut to 18-year-old hooker Reece Young after the north east product impressed Chris Hood in training.

Hood said: "Reece has been going great guns. He's only 18 but if you ever wanted proof of the statement that you're good enough, you're old enough, then he's it.

"Playing first team is the next part of his progression. He's got a big future in the game for Gateshead Thunder. He's a brilliant, brilliant talent."

Hood added: "Training has been fantastic over the past week. At times it's been ferocious and the lads have taken themselves to a different level to try to improve their performances and the club's. The only goal we've set initially is to get the minus six points back as quickly as possible."

ROCHDALE HORNETS v DONCASTER

John Stankevitch is set to make a series of changes to the team that lost heavily against Featherstone on Tuesday night.

The Rochdale coach said: "This will be the first game where I pick my strongest 13.

"Andy Saywell and Adam Bowman are the only lads who haven't played so far – everyone else has had ample opportunity to show me what they can offer.

"I've got a 13 in mind that I consider to be my strongest team. I don't think it will surprise many people who've seen us play."

Hornets have lost all four of their Northern Rail Cup games prior to the Co-operative Championship One season starting.

Stankevitch said: "You can look at it two ways. You can say we've lost all four games and that would be negative but as a group we've been together just three months.

"I didn't know half the players in the squad but we've put it together quickly and I've been pleased with the quality we've got."

Gary King could make his Doncaster debut after last week's scheduled Northern Rail Cup fixture against Blackpool was postponed. Craig Lawton and Gary Ellery could also make a return to action.

Dons coach Tony Miller said: "We're hoping to start the new season with a win and it is a game where both teams will fancy themselves.

"We are also keeping our fingers crossed that we have a few of the injured players back ready to go."

YORK CITY KNIGHTS v LONDON SKOLARS

Steve Lewis (hamstring) will face a late fitness test despite coming through Tuesday's training session unscathed.

York assistant coach Chris Thorman said: "We're going to field a notably different team from the one we'd selected to play London Skolars last week. We're going to go with what we feel is our strongest line up at the minute."

He continued: "We're pretty much where we thought we would be at this stage. We've still got plenty of work to do but that's going to come from playing together."

Jermaine Coleman and Gareth Honor are back in contention for the Skolars to give London coach James Massara a real boost.

Reflecting on London's Northern Rail Cup fixtures, Massara said: "It's been very, very tough. When you look at the players that have come in we've got pretty much a brand new team, especially with old heads like Jermaine and Gareth Honor being out injured. It's been a very good learning process for us and we're still very positive."

Ade Adebisi could also feature for the Skolars. "He's a chance this week," said Massara. "Ade's been going well in training and I've got a very big, healthy squad now, which is a nice position to be in."