Key Rams players are set for Rovers return

The Rams rested a number of players for last Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie against Newcastle Thunder, which was the club’s third game in eight days.

Influential scrum-half Anthony Thackeray and half-back partner Matty Wildie both missed the hard-fought 28-18 victory over Thunder.

Kieran Hyde, Shane Grady, Ryan Hepworth, Luke Adamson, Tony Adamson, Wayne Godwin and Karl Pryce also sat out the cup tie but a number are expected to feature in the important game against Rovers.

Dewsbury have a good record at home to Featherstone and won 11-10 at Tetley’s Stadium in the opening game of last season and coach Glenn Morrison knows it is an in important game leading into a tough Easter programme, which sees the Rams face two more West Yorkshire derbies against Batley Bulldogs and Bradford Bulls.

Morrison said: “I don’t like looking at the table too much but we are in fifth and Featherstone are in sixth. We play Batley, who are in seventh, the week after so they are a big couple of games for us.

“If we can get wins here it can cement our spot and give us a little bit of a buffer but if we lose them, then we’re down in the mix again so it is a big game for both teams and should be a good battle.

“There were about eight people who we rested last week so they will be back in the mix.

“We were able to give three youngsters their debuts (against Newcastle) and another three had their first game of the year for us so having played three games in a week and getting the result up at Workington, it was a job well done.”