Forwards back in the frame for Oldham

FORWARDS Craig Robinson and Luke Sutton will give Oldham boss Tony Benson a boost this week in the build-up to Sunday's big derby clash with Hornets RL at the Whitebank Stadium.

Robinson, restricted by a back injury to one senior game in the last 11 weeks, came unscathed through his comeback game for the reserves in their 42-30 defeat by Widnes on Saturday.

Sutton, who was unavailable for that game, is expected to be back in action for the reserves in this Saturday's clash with Leigh at Whitebank.

The first team came through Sunday's impressive 33-18 win at York with a clean bill of health, playing without on-loan half-back Greg McNally, so Benson will have no shortage of selection options in naming his side to represent second-placed Oldham against third-placed Hornets.

A tense derby is in prospect, given that Hornets will also be going flat out for the points in their bid to keep hold of third spot in the jostle for play-off advantages.

It will be a double-header Whitebank weekend with the reserves out to complete a league double over Leigh on Saturday and thus cement a place in the Reserves Championship play-off.

Oldham wingers Lucas Onyango and John Gillam, meanwhile, are to race to determine who is the faster, the winner to be entered in the sprints which form part of the Carnegie Nines event at Headingley Carnegie.