SWINTON LIONS won't need motivating for Sunday's Rugby League Challenge Cup tie against Skirlaugh -- the opposition have already done it for them.
The Lions haven't managed to win a match so far this season, suffering four straight defeats in the league and the amateurs from Humberside have gone on local radio saying Swinton don't look fit, they don't want to tackle and they are going to beat them.
"That's fine. That's OK," said Lions coach Tony Humphries. "I won't need to give the lads much of a team talk before the match. I've heard the tape and I'll just play them that.
"They are already fired up for this one. Their pride has been hurt. We will be going out with all guns blazing with a strong side.
"We will give Skirlaugh respect, but not overly so. They are not giving us respect and that will be their undoing."
Humphries has injury doubts over Adam Hughes, Alan Shea and Dale Holdstock, Andy Leatham and Andy Cheetham. Wayne English and Mike Loughlin are standing by to start the game.
"Mike did well when he came on at Workington and I am thinking of starting him in the second row," said Humphries. "Adam's shoulder injury may keep him out, but we have Wayne to come in at full back."
Prop Jon Neill is expected to make his first appearance following a knee reconstruction operation last year. BARLA National Cup kings Skirlaugh have not quite taken the Conference Premier Division by storm in the last couple of seasons, but with props Steve Morrod and Dean Ralph back in the fold after long-term injury and Aussie Kurt Roelandts impressing at centre or full back, the Hull side are showing signs of regaining their old invincible status
Having won the National Cup in 1996, 1999 and 2000, many of the Skirlaugh players are no strangers to pressure-cooker football and recent good form suggests that Swinton could be more seriously tested than may have been anticipated when the draw was made.
Scrum half Colin Brown, man of the match in Skirlaugh's last two finals, can be counted on to make the most of any platform established by the likes of Morrod, Ralph and another veteran figure in back-from-retirement Richard Gotts.
Skirlaugh's quality back division of stand off Lee Newton and threequarters Simon Kilby and Phil Thacker will ensure that Swinton, still without a win in the Northern Ford Premiership, will have to be at their best to progress. By STEVE BOTT Wind up merchants to cop it?
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