Kingstone Press Championship Preview: Halifax v Dewsbury Rams

Preliminary semi-final

Ryan Fieldhouse (knee) and Tommy Saxton (back) are both major doubts for Halifax as they look to bounce back from last week’s 34-16 defeat against Featherstone Rovers.

But player-coach Scott Murrell could be boosted by the return of Steve Tyrer, who looks set to make his return from a knee problem.

Murrell said: “We’ll go all guns blazing at Dewsbury, because it’s knockout football now.”

Dewsbury Rams coach Glenn Morrison is without Makali Aizue, who is serving a one-match suspension, but has an otherwise unchanged squad to select from.

Rams emerged 50-6 winners against Workington Town last week.

Morrison said: “We spoke about going into the finals with momentum and kicking on, and the boys lifted and came up with the performance we know we’ve got within us.

“We‘ve shown this year we can match anyone if we turn up to play.

“It’s only one game, but hopefully we’ve got a few more left in us.”

On Halifax, he added: “They’ve got a different style of play now – they’re a little bit more expansive – but they’re still a good, tough side, and they have been for a number of years.”