TODMORDEN have solved their major headache for the rest of the season - finding sub pros.

Australian Jerry Cassell was forced to go home last month with a broken finger after suffering with a hand injury throughout the early part of the campaign and only playing one game for the Centre Vale side - a defeat against Accrington.

So far Tod have used six sub pros in his absence - and have now fixed up replacements for the rest of the season.

Barnoldswick's Clinton Peake has proved a star and he will be stepping in again tomorrow when Todmorden make the trip to Burnley.

Littleborough's Lee Carseldine has also played his part as has Middleton's Sri Lankan pro Ruvin Peiris.

Tod have also called on the services of Chris Schofield from Lancashire and Nottinghamshire's Kevin Pietersen - who helped them seal a Worsley Cup last four spot.

And, the Sunday after Cassell got injured on the Saturday, captain Nigel Hunter had to make a hurried call to Queenslander Brendan Shinnock, who is a wicketkeeper and batsman pro-ing in Manchester.

"I got hold of him at 12pm and he was in Worsley but he got over here for 1.05. It was a close thing.

"A few people had let us down and it was desperate because it was such short notice," said the skipper.

"Now we have had time to pre plan and we have most of the games fixed-up for the rest of the season."

Peake and Carseldine will both be in use again but they also have former Rishton pro Clinton Perren and Norden's Asif Mujtaba pencilled in.

They are glad to get it all sorted as Colne are also on a paid-man hunt after Charl Langeveldt went home with ligament damage. "We have been speaking with Colne and sorting it out between us," said Hunter. "We have reached an agreement with each other."

Professional's aside, it's been a topsy-turvey season for Todmorden so far.

The loss of Queenslander Cassell at the start of the season didn't hinder them as they enjoyed two victories in the opening games of the league campaign.

Cassell came back for the third game but that is when they lost to Accrington and the Australian broke his finger on the same troublesome hand. A defeat to leaders Bacup followed with Shinnock standing in.

Todmorden were then forced to accept that their paid man would have to go home.

But it didn't dampen their spirits last weekend as they enjoyed a quarter-final Worsley Cup victory over Nelson - and sealed a semi-final spot at Ramsbottom as they hope to emulate 2000 where they won the cup.

"It has been a tough draw for us and we have to hope to get their pro Michael Clarke out before he gets to a 100," said the skipper.

"He is a good player, we tried to sign him, and we know all about him. We will be the big underdogs.

"In the league we have been unlucky a few times. We were in a good position against Haslingden on Sunday when we made 160 on not a very good wicket and we had every chance to win it but for the weather.

"Against Accrington, we got ourselves into a winning position but we were struggling for bowlers for the cup so I tried out a couple of bowlers that perhaps I wouldn't have done in a normal game.

"And against Bacup we had called on Shinny. He is a good player, he has played for Queensland's second team, but we never had a chance. But we have done okay."

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES: Burnley v Todmorden, Church v Haslingden, Colne v Bacup, East Lancs v Accrington, Enfield v Rishton, Ramsbottom v Nelson, Rawtenstall v Lowerhouse.