Upbeat Huddersfield YMCA are waiting for Halifax RL to make a decision on Ed Barber before they can finalise their side for the National III North trip to Wirral.

The influential fly-half was released by the rugby league club last weekend to play a starring role in the YM’s impressive 41-17 home win over Cleckheaton.

At this stage, Laund Hill officials don’t know if Halifax are going to require Barber’s services for Saturday’s Super 8s qualifier clash at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

If they do, 18-year-old former Heath No10 Jacob Holmes will step up.

But director of rugby Damon Scholes is hopeful the news from Halifax will again be positive.

“Halifax made Ed available to us last week, and everyone could see how much influence he has on the side,” said Scholes.

“So we’re obviously hoping we can have him again this weekend. It’s just a case of waiting to see.

“Having said that, we are lucky to have someone as talented as Jacob Holmes to take over if required. He’s a very talented player and won’t let us down at all.

“And although Ed played well for us against Cleckheaton, it wasn’t just down to him that we won. It was a top team effort that got us such a good win, and we know a repeat performance at Wirral with Jacob at 10 will give us a great chance of winning.”

The YM’s pack challenge will be boosted this weekend with the return following an ankle injury of No8 Josh Lumb, with Scholes admitting the mood within the squad couldn’t be better.

“Wirral will be a tough team to beat, but the boys are up for it,” he added.

“Like us, they’ve won one and lost one so far this season, but the fact they won their home game 41-20 against Rossendale is a clear warning to us that we’re going to have to play well to beat them.

“But training’s been fantastic this week – the manner of the win over Cleckheaton helped that – and with some real competition for places, everyone knows they’re going to need to perform well tomorrow.”

Huddersfield YMCA: Slater, Wrafter, Moore, Watson, Dyke, Bell, Housley, Dyson, Hodge, Broughton, Lumb, Wilson, Barber, Holmes, Bulloch, Berry, Ryder, Hemsley, Rhodes, Parfitt.