HUDDERSFIELD are aiming to give a start to Tom Davies in the hooking role for tomorrow’s Yorkshire Cup first round clash with Bradford & Bingley at Lockwood Park (2.00).
Davies, who is the brother of long-term injury victim James, is to undergo a late fitness test before the new-look front row is finalised.
If declared fit, he will join Lawrence Sanderson and Ed Birkhead, while skipper Nick Sharpe once again moves up into the second row to partner Nick Rhodes.
Ben Hoyle, who has been on the bench for the last couple of games, starts this week in the back row, while Gareth Lewis takes a rare turn at No8.
The backs remain unchanged with the exception of Jon Coles, who dons the No10 shirt as the half-back partner for Joel Hinchliffe with Chris Duffy starting on the bench, alongside regular front rowers Alex Battye and Tony Stringwell.
Huddersfield have faced Bradford & Bingley in the Yorkshire Cup for the last three years, winning on each occasion (last year they defeated the Bees 29-19 in the second round) and will be hoping to repeat that victory to give them some momentum to take into the League programme – they are at home again next week when Bromsgrove made the lengthy trip up from Worcestershire.
Bradford & Bingley are currently one division below Huddersfield, and continue to struggle, having won only three games in National II North, where they occupy fourth from bottom slot.
Should Davies fail his fitness test, then Paul Armitage will be called up at hooker.
Spectators are asked to note that tomorrow’s game kicks off at 2pm and not the usual 3pm.
Huddersfield: Sanderson, T Davies, Birkhead, N Rhodes, Sharpe, Hinchliff, Hoyle, Lewis; Hinchliffe, Coles, Mitchell, Paxman, Clarke, Booth, Owen. Subs: Battye, Stringwell, Ward, Thornton, Duffy, Meakins, Brook.
