Chance to make amends

Fylde suffered a serious, jolting reverse on their travels last Saturday, and coach Mark Nelson said of the Cinderford loss: “It was one of those cases where everything that could go wrong did go wrong and even the best sides have their off-days.

“The players were hurting after last Saturday, and we know that tomorrow Wharfedale will have a lot stronger side than when they came across to play us in December (only for the game to be postponed).

“Wharfedale will be very difficult to break down, but we have to dig deep and try to get back to the level of form which we should in our last home match when we beat Blaydon.

“There are 12 matches left to go this season - that means 60 points to play for and everything is still in the mix.”

For tomorrow’s match, Ollie Viney returns to the wing - he takes over from Ben Rath, who will be in action on Sunday for Lancashire under-20s when they are away to Northumberland.

Centre Scott Barrow was not considered as he is on duty with the England Counties representative side in Dublin tonight.

Second rower Roger Banks, a fixture for much of the season, is on holiday, so Gareth Rawlings is given a first start since the completion of his lengthy suspension - Rawlings got some game time at Cinderford. The back row has yet to be finalised, and it hinges on whether or not Steve McGinnis is available to play.

Wharfedale will be without prop Adam Howard, who was suspended until February 13 for striking an opponent in the Yorkshire club’s defeat against Blaydon last Saturday.

Fylde (probable) C Briers; Viney, S Briers, Waywell, Brennand; Kenyon, Wallwork; Birchall, Roddam, Griffiths, Rawlings, Arnold, Stewart, S Beaumont, Vernon/McGinnis. Replacements: Altham, Lavelle/Burtonwood, Vernon/Thompson, De La Harpe, Johnson. Kick-off 3pm.