NRC Preview: Halifax v Dewsbury

Ben Black (foot) has an outside chance of playing in Halifax’s Northern Rail Cup opening game against Dewsbury.

The Aussie livewire underwent minor surgery during the off-season but he is edging nearer to a return to action.

Sean Penkywicz is also believed to have recovered from a knee complaint.

Rams coach Warren Jowitt says Alex Bretherton and Lee Lingard are both “still struggling” with knee problems ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Dewsbury got their campaign underway with a thumping 50-4 victory over London Skolars last week.

Jowitt said: “We had a very good first half and we were quite clinical. We had an 80 per cent completion rate but a few players probably got a bit giddy in the second half, so we’ve got to put that right because teams like Halifax will capitalise on that. “They’ve got quality across the park and quality on the bench. They’re a very good side and we’ve got to go there and see how we compete with them.

“When you look at their squad you can see they’ve got a very powerful pack that we’re going to have to work hard to try to contain.”