McCormack: We won’t be distracted

Swinton Lions coach Steve McCormack insists his side will not be distracted by their own impressive start to the Co-operative Championship One season.

The Lions are top of the table after three wins from three, including last week’s 68-24 blitz of Oldham.

But McCormack said: “It’s nice to be top, but I don’t really look at the table.

“We are just going to keep our feet on the ground and concentrate on the next game. We’re not thinking beyond Gateshead.”

Swinton trio Neil Rigby (ankle), Alex Hurst (ankle) and Dean Thompson (knee) will all be assessed this week.

Karl Brandt and Mike Ellis return for Gateshead Thunder, but Chris Parker is missing after receiving a one-match ban in midweek.

Gateshead coach Richard Pell said: “We do lack some experience, but we’ve shown we can do it in patches at Keighley and South Wales. It’s just about concentration levels.

“We’ve got to try to improve week by week. At the end of last season we were getting beat by 70 or 80. We’ve got to get those margins down and then take things from there.

“It’s a week-by-week process. If we go with the right frame of mind, get some ball control and build some pressure, then we’ve a chance.”