Sheffield Eagles v Featherstone Rovers: Weary Rovers will need to dig deep to clip the Eagles’ wings

Both teams are backing up from a midweek 1895 Cup fixture, Rovers having been pipped 22-16 at Widnes Vikings on Wednesday when Eagles crushed a virtual second-string Halifax 52-8.

Eagles had also played the previous Friday, losing 36-6 at Widnes in a rearranged Championship clash and Rovers coach Ryan Carr knows both teams will be digging deep, but he reckons Featherstone can go into it in confident mood.

“They had a good start and they are a good team,” he said of Widnes. “It’s a tough journey at any time, let alone on a Wednesday night after a full days’ work for most of the boys.

“Credit to the players, it could easily have spiraled out of control, but they fought their way back into it and made a good game of it.”

A recent good run has lifted Rovers to fourth in the table, but only points difference separates them from sixth-placed Sheffield.

Of tomorrow’s hosts, Carr noted: “They had a really good first half of the year and they are really hard to beat at home.

“We’ve got to make sure we follow up from Wednesday night.

“We took a lot out of that and we have got to win this one, that’s all we need this weekend.”