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St Helens v Halifax RLFC - Matt: set a benchmark
HALIFAX coach Matt Calland has labelled tonight's pre season showdown at St Helens (8.0) "as tough as it gets" for last season's Co operative Championship Grand Finalists.
And he has urged his new look side, who will be playing their first and last warm up game ahead of next weekend's Northern Rail Cup opener at Sheffield, to put down a marker for the rest of the year at Knowsley Road.
Saints, who beat Widnes 42-26 on Tuesday night, are expected to field a clutch of internationals including new England half back sensation Kyle Eastmond.
"The players are looking forward to testing themselves against a top Super League side and I can't think of a better way to prepare for the start of the season," said Calland, who is expected to give debuts to all his close season signings apart from Papua New Guinea prop Makali Aizue, who has a knee problem.
"The chance to play against Leon Pryce, Kyle Eastmond, Matt Gidley, those kinds of players, doesn't come along very often at this level.
"It's as tough as it gets really, and our performance here can set a benchmark for our season.
"If we can get on top for periods of the game and keep them out for periods of the game, then we can definitely do that against teams from our division.
"It will be difficult to break them down, because they are a good side, very well coached by Mick Potter.
"It should definitely be an open game though and we'll be going out to enjoy it."
While finally getting a chance to play a game - after all three of the club's planned fixtures were postponed - was described as "crucial" by Calland, he admitted the hangover from the cold snap was likely to continue.
"We are way behind schedule with our training and February is now going to be taken up with what should have been pre season work" 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
