Championship One preview: Hemel v Hunslet

Jy-mel Coleman (hamstring) and James Howitt (back) are both missing for Hemel Stags as they begin their Kingstone Press Championship One campaign by hosting Hunslet Hawks.

Stags coach Troy Perkins said: “We’ve had a good pre-season and we’re raring to go.

“Hunslet are probably favourites to win this division, so it’s a massive test to begin with, but we’re at home and we’ve got nothing to lose.

“Last year’s experience will do us good and the players now know what to expect. They know the level they’ve got to be at.”

Hunslet’s only absentee is James Coyle, who is ruled out with a foot injury.

Hawks coach Barry Eaton said: “We need to have a strong mentality this year and a different sort of mentality to last season, when we were underdogs most weeks.

“This year we’ll be favourites most weeks and that brings a different challenge, but we’re hoping we can start as we mean to go on and retain that tag throughout the season.”