CH1 preview: Rochdale v Gateshead (Sun)

Rochdale Hornets coach Ian Talbot will give late fitness tests to Chris Hough and ‘a couple of others’ ahead of Sunday’s clash with Gateshead Thunder.

Dave Llewellyn is definitely ruled out as Rochdale look to back up last week’s impressive win over South Wales Scorpions.

Talbout said: “We’ll have some changes to make, but hopefully not too many because we’re a settled team now.”

He added: “Gateshead have come good in recent weeks. They’re hitting form at the right end of the season and we’ll be reading nothing into our two previous games against them this year.

“They’re a big, strong outfit and Ricky Hough really gives them a bit of leadership in and around the ruck.”

Confident Gateshead arrive with last week’s narrow defeat against North Wales being their only loss in their last three games.

Thunder coach Kevin Neighbour said: “We’ve turned a massive corner over the last six to eight weeks.”