Duo eye premium play-off position

Halifax and Batley still have plenty at stake as they jostle for position in the top six of the Co-operative Championship ahead of the play-offs.

Both clubs can still finish second should they win, but are relying on Leigh losing against Swinton.

Victory does assure at least third place for both, however, and Bulldogs coach John Kear says that will ensure a keenly contested clash at the Shay.

Kear said: "If Halifax win they know they come at least third, and it's the same for us.

"The nice thing is that we both get another shot next week whatever happens, but obviously we would prefer to be going into the play-offs playing from third rather than fifth."

Kear is hoping to have dual registration prop James Green available for the match, and says that calf injury victims Alex Walmsley and Danny Maun have trained fully and are ready to play.

His counterpart Karl Harrison has had mixed news on the injury front.

Ex-Bulldog Wayne Reittie is available again after three weeks out with a shoulder problem, but Dane Manning is out for the season.

Manning broke his jaw in two places during the recent defeat against Leigh.

Harrison said: "It's a blow for the team, because he's been influential all year and my guess is that he'll be right up there when the players vote for their player of the year."