Featherstone Rovers v Hunslet Hawks: Rovers out to make up for lost time

Featherstone playmaker Kyle Briggs, who has joined Rovers from Sheffield Eagles.

Sharp is planning to field a strong line-up after Rovers had two pre-season games cancelled last week.

With a big turnaround in players over the off-season, Sharp had arranged seven warm-up games to give his squad an opportunity to gel before their Kingstone Press Championship opener at Bradford Bulls on February 7.

He was planning to field a mixture of first-team players and fringe men this weekend, but matches against York City Knights and Salford Red Devils fell victim to the weather.

And that has led to a change of plan.

“We wanted to continue the momentum from the Wakefield game and go into Salford with our strongest team,” Sharp said.

“They were planning to do the same so we were looking forward to a good hit-out. We were disappointed that was called off, but we will just take over the Hunslet game instead.”

Sharp said full-back Danny Craven, who is on loan from Widnes Vikings, and playmaker Kyle Briggs – a recent signing from Sheffield Eagles – will both make their first appearance on Sunday.

Meanwhile Hawks have arranged a trial game away to Championship side Batley Bulldogs on Sunday, January 31 (2pm).