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Featherstone Rovers v Halifax: Fax are ready - Calland
HALIFAX boss Matt Calland reckons a season of adversity has endowed his side with an unshakeable resolve ahead of tonight's first-versus-second Co-operative Championship play off showdown at Featherstone (7.30).
Fax, who were thrashed 44-4 at Post Office Road on Good Friday, head to the league leaders as underdogs to book a Grand Final berth at the first attempt and with a catalogue of injuries threatening their title tilt.
But after a tumultuous season that has seen the club tumble out of the Northern Rail Cup, kicked out of the Challenge Cup, their coach suspended and then re-instated, the sacking of major close-season signing Stanley Gene and persistent - but so far unconfirmed - rumours of cash-flow problems, Calland is adamant his players can defy the odds.
"After the season they have had, I honestly do not think that anything can break them mentally," said Calland.
"The players are really determined to get to the Grand Final.
"They have had so much to deal with and I have got nothing but admiration for the way they have stuck to the task.
"Featherstone will start favourites, and rightly so after the success they have had this year, but we haven't been far behind them.
"We have had good preparation, training has gone well, and now we just need to put a performance in."
Exactly what team Calland puts on the field to meet the challenge presented by a near-full strength Rovers side - Daryl Powell is only missing forward Iain Morrison - remains to be seen.
Key decisions must be made at centre and hooker, where Fax need to cover for the absence of crocked duo Jon Goddard and Bob Beswick.
Lee Paterson and Ben Black deputised in Toulouse a fortnight ago, although Calland declined to be drawn on whether those selections would stand.
"I'd rather we played our cards close to our chest on that one," he said.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
