LANCASHIRE Lynx kick off the new league season this Sunday when they entertain Bramley at Chorley's Victory Park in the newly named Northern Ford Rugby League Premiership.

Last weekend Lynx progressed smoothly into the fourth round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup after defeating Askam 50-3 with wingman Neil Parsley showing his class with four tries.

Coach Steve Hampson has only a small squad to work with at present and he will be hoping for a relatively injury-free season.

Steve Gee and P J Solomon both picked up minor knocks, but both should be fit to play.

He will also be looking for further improvement in the team's performance as Bramley will prove to be a much harder task than Askam, although they were were surprisingly beaten by amateur outfit Leigh Miners at Headingley last Sunday.

Bramley have a new coach in ex-Wigan and Castleford scrum half Mike Ford. He has strengthened his squad with the signings of Richard Russell from Castleford, Maea David from Hull and ex-Sheffield prop Danny McCallister but only Russell played last Sunday.

Last season Bramley were challenging Lynx for the championship for most of the season and defeated Lynx at Deepdale 23-22 and are once again are expected to do well in the new league.

The club were subjected to much criticism for their link-up with Leeds Rhinos which saw several Leeds players playing for Bramley during the season, but this arrangement has now been revoked.

Lynx are expected to line up: Murray, David Jones, Campbell, Abram, Parsley, Phil Jones, Flanagan, Norton, Donno, Prest, Gee, Solomon, Hodgkinson. Subs (from): Whyte, Gue st, Smith, Walsh, Mawdsley, Bisping. Kick-off 3pm.

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