SWINTON Lions will be hoping to welcome back a trio of stars for Sunday's derby showdown with Rochdale Hornets at Gigg Lane (kick-off 3pm).

Coach Mike Gregory is keeping his fingers crossed that centre Paul Loughlin will have shaken off a knee injury that has kept him out of the last two matches.

Ian Welsby may also return at full back if he is 100 per cent fit, but Gregory's biggest doubt is over Jon Neill, who has a dead leg.

Forward Ian Pickavance could also get a run out after returning to the bench against Waterhead on Tuesday night following a back injury.

If Welsby does start it will mean Tuesday night's Man of the Match, 18-year-old Wayne English, will have to step down after his try-scoring debut in the Silk Cut Challenge Cup third round tie. "I am looking to blood several youngsters who are coming through, but in the right games, and without being disrespectful to Waterhead, I thought that was a good game for Wayne to have his first full first team outing - Rochdale might be a bit different," said Gregory.

"They have won two and lost three of their games so far this season. I have just watched the video of their game against York and Rochdale play a basic game, but make very few mistakes. It's a local derby, so that adds a bit of bite too.

"It's going to be tough in this league this season. There are n't going to be many easy games, the standard has improved noticeably.

"But we are on home turf on Sunday and you would hope we would get a result. I will be looking at performances in the build-up for the St Helens game - and for the rest of the season."

Admission prices have been fixed for the Silk Cut Challenge Cup fourth round game against Ellery Hanley's Saints on Sunday week (Feb 13) at £10 for adults and £5 juniors and senior citizens in the Main and South stands. It is all pay, including Bury FC season ticket holders.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.