THE frozen ground claimed last Saturday's LSH fixture with Stourbridge robbing young South African Brendan Botha of a farewell in front of his home fans.

It is very much a case of forward thinking for Eric Hughes and his coaching team as they come to terms with the urgent need to restructure the LSH front-row. The loss of Botha, on a pre-season tour of Argentina, probably spells a return to tight head prop for the experienced Tommy Jackson. Jackson has done an excellent job as stand-in hooker covering the unlucky John Grigg's long-term injury.

This would leave the number two jersey vacant. The options then would be to give a second first team appearance to Bruce Thompson, who performed earlier in the season at Morley, perm the existing front-row with the addition of Phil Hewitt, or produce a newcomer.

Mike Nugent broke his thumb during the game at Walsall and will be out for another five weeks, adding to the need to make a change in the second-row. This will mean an immediate return to action for Njike Tchakoute now recovered from a knee injury.

In the backs Simon Hazlett is doubtful having suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury and it is likely that Eric Hughes will simply shuffle his existing young centres and wings with both Harris and Walker in the starting line-up.

All eyes will be on the tunnel at Sandal next Saturday as LSH travel across the Pennines to take on a side who came within a whisker of beating New Brighton last weekend. Whatever the outcome of the selection riddle, LSH know that they must have all the answers to come away with two points and keep themselves in mid-table.