SWINTON LIONS are expected to feast on minnows New Earswick All Blacks in the Challenge Cup at Gigg Lane on Sunday (kick-off 3pm) and run up a ton, writes STEVE BOTT.

The Lions were due to take on Widnes in a Northern Ford Premiership game last night and coach Gregory said that any player not involved at Widnes would probably feature in the Cup game on Sunday.

Gregory's only doubt before the Widnes game was back row forward Phil Cushion, who had a touch of flu. He was doubtful for last night, but could recover in time to play against the Conference League's Division Two basement club.

They are coached by former Salford forward Mick McTigue, whose son Lee, once played for Swinton's Academy side. Lee is likely to be in the York-based Earswick side on Sunday.

The pundits are tipping Swinton to run up a hundred points, but coach Mike Gregory said: "New Earswick are an unknown quantity and it's a no-win situation for us because people will be expecting us to win comfortably. I will just be watching our performance.

"All I know about them is that they are bottom of the second division in the Conference League.

"I have not done a lot of homework on them, but a couple of our stats men have seen them play. You can't go off any kind of form though because this will be their Wembley.

"We have a squad of 25 players and with only one team to play them in there are players who are not getting a game week in and week out," said Gregory. "It's one of the most frustrating parts of the job.

"I am not bothered if we win by two points or 220 points against New Earswick, as long as the players I pick perform.

"We have got to play to our strengths and the team has got to play the way I want them to play. I'll be happy with that," said Gregory.