Danger man!

STOP THAT MAN . . . Oldham’s Neil Roden “has run the show”, according to Hornets coach John Stankevitch, in the last two meetings between the sides.

Hornets target Roden in Spotland showdown
IT is now or never for Oldham Roughyeds as they face their most important clash of the season.

Old foes Rochdale Hornets stand in the way of Tony Benson’s side and a tentative step towards a fifth straight play-off final — an achievement the visiting coach has consistently put forth as not being beyond the realms of possibility.

A trip to Spotland has not, in recent years, put much fear into Oldham teams.

Rochdale have been beaten twice by their rivals this year — 38-16 on the same ground in mid-August and 38-6 at the Whitebank in April — and have not come out on top in clashes between the two sides since 2008.

A 32-22 win for Hornets in the Northern Rail Cup was the last time, Law Cup aside, Oldham have lost this fixture. Roughyeds have enjoyed 11 successive victories since.

The winners of this elimination play-off will travel to face either Doncaster or Whitehaven next week, with the losers left licking their wounds and planning for next season.

Hornets coach John Stankevitch said: “We need to make sure we control the game. We've played Oldham twice, and fallen apart both times.

“Attacking wise we've looked dangerous, but defensively we've just lost the plot completely.”

He added: “We need to have a bit of bite about us, and I'm looking for a really aggressive performance.

“Neil Roden has been the difference in those two games this year. We looked at him before each of those games, but both times we've then just let him run the show.

“Both sets of forwards are reasonably well-matched, but we just can't afford to let Neil Roden play in a dinner suit. It's been ridiculous how easy he's found it in those two games. We need to put him under pressure every time he gets the ball.”

Rochdale are likely to make one change, with Danny Samuel replacing the suspended Gary Middlehurst.