Dewsbury Rams keen to impress against Huddersfield Giants in Michael Knowles testimonial as Batley Bulldogs travel to Widnes Vikings on a high

Saturday's game is a testimonial for Dewsbury Rams' Michael Knowles. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

With the Betfred Championship season due to start in just two weeks’ time, Dewsbury Rams and Batley Bulldogs will be looking to set high standards in warm-up games this weekend.

Rams play host to Huddersfield Giants on Saturday (1pm) in a testimonial for Dewsbury forward Michael Knowles and Bulldogs visit Widnes Vikings the following afternoon (3pm) for Danny Craven’s benefit match.

It will be Rams’ first hit-out after the Boxing Day derby at Batley was called off because of Covid cases in both camps and coach Lee Greenwood admitted: “We have seen plenty of training now and we want to see them play."

He said: “Some of the new boys, we haven’t seen them play yet - and we have a game [in the Championship] on January 30, so we want a game.

“Individuals want to do enough to get into the team for the Bradford game and for me, it’s about seeing some signs we’re not far off.”

Batley began their pre-season campaign with a 28-22 win at Bradford last Sunday.

Boss Craig Lingard said: “We’ve retained the majority of our squad from last year so our standards should be exactly the same.

“For 80 per cent of the game last week, those standards were there.

“Against Widnes and Huddersfield next week, it’s about maintaining those standards and improving on them so we can be as close as possible to 100 per cent for the first game against Halifax.”