Assistants in charge for Haven swansong

Whitehaven assistant coaches Lee Doran and Les Ashe look set to take charge of the club's final regular Co-operative Championship One game against North Wales Crusaders following the dismissal of Don Gailer.

Gailer was told he was no longer required earlier this week, following Whitehaven's defeat at London Skolars on Friday night.

The club cited "issues in the relationship between coaching staff and the players" as a reason behind their decision, and also said "Haven players will now be determined to produce a strong 80 minutes ahead of the start of the play-offs".

North Wales Crusaders coach Clive Griffiths will check on the fitness of Danny Hulme and Jono Smith before finalising his squad to travel north, although Christiaan Roets is expected to feature after recovering from a recent concussion.

Griffiths said: "Whitehaven will be fired up, just like I'd expect in a last home game of the season, but we'll be fired up as well.

"We know it's going to be tough, but we've got to believe - as Oldham, Rochdale and London Skolars did - that you can beat teams in higher league positions than you.

"The odds are massively against us making the play-offs, but where there's life there's hope. We want to finish the season on a high."