Winger Nick Rawsthorne is set for a debut on Saturday as Huddersfield RU go hunting a fourth National II North victory in five matches at Otley.
Signed last week from Yorkshire Carnegie, the 18-year-old will step in at Cross Green providing he comes through a late test on a hamstring injury suffered while playing for the Falcons.
Head coach Gareth Lewis is also ready to make a change in the front row, where Lawrence Sanderson looks set to return at tighthead prop in place of Alex Battye, who will be among the replacements.
“We have had some really good battles with Otley over the years and this will be no different,” said Lewis, who is looking to build on the 26-11 victory against Hull at Lockwood Park.
“It’s a tough place to go and Otley are on a good run having beaten Chester and Stourbridge, but we are in good spirits ourselves and we are really looking forward to the challenge.”
It marks a return to Otley for Backs Coach Ian Shuttleworth, who was part of a highly-successful National I Otley side in his playing days, while two of the home front row are ex-teammates of Lewis from his time playing at Halifax – Mark Chivers and Adam Blades (who started his career at Huddersfield).
“We know them pretty well, so perhaps that provides us with a bit of extra incentive – especially for Shutts being back on his old stomping ground,” added Lewis.
“On selection, we have tried to keep it as consistent as possible to build our combinations because, in the first seven games, the team changed quite a lot from week to week.
“Ben Mitchell is unavailable on the wing, so all being well there will be a debut for Nick Rawsthorne, while Lawrence gets the nod at tighthead.
“All three (front row) are doing a brilliant job. We have been using the interchanges a lot so they’ve all been getting game time, but it’s a matter of keeping them fresh as we go forward in the season.”
Ross Thornton returns on the bench after missing the victory over Hull because of a back injury.
