Wary Hunslet put unbeaten run on the line

The Parksiders’ opening league fixture at Keighley Cougars was postponed due to the hosts’ involvement in a rearranged Cup tie, but Hunslet will be expected to make a winning start when they visit West Wales Raiders, who have won only one game in the past two seasons.

It is Hunslet’s second successive trip to the Principality after last weekend’s 22-18 last-gasp win at North Wales Crusaders.

They also won all their pre-season games and beat Coventry Bears in their opening Cup tie, so are in impressive form.

The Leeds side will be boosted by the return of Ben Heaton and Kiedan Hartley, although Matty Chrimes (ankle) remains on the sidelines and Jack Aldous is struggling with a hamstring problem.

Jack Ray could come into contention, but cautious coach Gary Thornton insists nothing can be taken for granted against last year’s wooden spoonists.

The travel – there and back on the day – makes it a tough proposition and Thornton stressed his team’s attitude has to be spot-on.

He said: “We have to get our approach right. It’s a long journey, so we’ll be setting off from Leeds at 7am and having a couple of stops along the way so we’re in as good a shape as we can be, physically and mentally, when we arrive.”

West Wales were dumped out of the Cup, at home, by amateur opposition and their round one league game at Newcastle Thunder was postponed – as Thunder were taking on Cougars in the delayed tie.

But Thornton warned: “West Wales will be smarting after losing at home to Underbank Rangers in the Challenge Cup and their players will be determined to put that defeat behind them by getting one over us.

“Their ground suits our expansive style, though. It’s a good, wide pitch and we’ll be looking to perform much better than we did on North Wales’ tight ground.

“It’s a long way back from West Wales and our aim is to not only be reflecting on victory, but on a much better performance.”