Championship Preview: Batley Bulldogs v Rochdale Hornets

Batley Bulldogs loan winger Alex Brown could return to action on Sunday having missed last week’s narrow defeat against Featherstone Rovers.

Sam Scott and Mark Applegarth are also back available as coach John Kear aims to move the Bulldogs higher than the ninth place they currently occupy in the Kingstone Press Championship table.

And Rochdale Hornets coach Ian Talbot admits his side faces a real battle in Sunday’s clash.

Talbot said: “The fact we’ve taken some points off Batley already this year will form part of their build-up, I’m sure.

“I don’t think they’ll make the same mistakes again and we’ll have to be ready to face a very good team.”

A win for Hornets would narrow the gap between themselves and the top nine as they battle for Championship survival.

But Talbot said: “We’re not too bothered about the league, we’re more bothered about our own performances.

“We’ve been gifting territory and possession to our opponents, and we need to stop doing that and start going set for set with teams.”

Sean Casey is unavailable for Rochdale after suffering a dislocated jaw. He faces three weeks on the sidelines.