Championship Preview: Hunslet v Batley

Hunslet Hawks coach Barry Eaton has lost three players through injury ahead of Thursday’s televised Kingstone Press Championship fixture with Batley Bulldogs, but is boosted by the return of five key men.

Danny Grimshaw (ankle), David Clayton (shoulder) and Tom Bush (concussion) are all ruled out after a bruising defeat at Workington Town.

But Jimmy Keinhorst, Richard Moore, Thomas Coyle, Luke Helliwell and Liam Welham return to the Hawks squad, while Lee Mapals and Scott Watson keep their places in Eaton’s match-day squad after impressing last week.

Eaton said: “We had a really poor start at Workington, but we weren’t far off and for half an hour in the second half we were outstanding, especially considering we’d lost three backs.

“Batley are very resolute and we know we’ll have to go for the full 80 minutes on Thursday. If we can match them up front and deal with their forwards, then we’ll give ourselves a chance.

“There have been some very good games on Premier Sports in recent weeks and we want to add to that.”

Batley coach John Kear must prepare without suspended duo George Flanagan and Ash Lindsay. The pair were given one match bans after being found guilty of punching in a match against Swinton Lions earlier this month.

Miles Greenwood (knee) is also ruled out for a fixture that could see Batley climb into second place in the Kingstone Press Championship.