Championship preview: Who is ‘improving’ week on week? Who returned ‘home’ last week? And what is in store for Halifax Panthers at Dewsbury Rams?

Fax, despite injuries to the squad, put in a determined shift at in-form Oldham last weekend, who recorded an eye-catching 14th victory on the spin at Boundary Park.

There were plenty of positives though for the Panthers with youngster Ben Will notching a hat-trick of tries and the returning Adam Tangata going over for a score too.

Director Adam Butterfield told the Courier: “Oldham are a very good team with 14 wins on the bounce. We didn’t get absolutely mullered and we had a couple of injuries, so it was positive.

“Ben is just improving week on week. We wanted to give him some experience under Kyle and he is flourishing. He is doing really well. He has got the qualities of a young, hungry player. He mucks in at training and he is quality.

“He gives his all every week, week in, week out. He deserves it. He really does deserve last week. We have seen snippets of it when he came on at Batley, scoring in the top corner at the death. You can see the hunger in him and that he really wants to have a go. He is doing well.”

He added: “I went out and got Ads (Tangata). He is instrumental. It was a no brainer. He is a fan favourite. It is not just what he offers on the field, it is what he brings off the field too. All the guys love him and he adds a lot of value.

“With what has gone on this year, when Adam became available, I said, ‘come on, come home’, and here we are. He got over for a try as well.”

Kyle Eastmond’s men now head to FLAIR Stadium looking to secure the double over the Rams having beaten them 30-16 in a thrilling contest at The Shay in May.

It will also be the second of three consecutive away games for Halifax, who won’t be returning home until August 9 against Barrow Raiders.

Butterfield said: “It will be a tough game at Dewsbury. They prepare well, they go well, and it is not going to be easy. We need to dig in and the squad is what it is. We are working hard, and we have got what it takes.

“All we can ask is that the players give 100 per cent and leave it all on the field. The last time we played them it was a very good game, and hopefully we get a repeat of that.”

He added: “We can’t do anything about it (run of away fixtures). It is what it is. Let’s just hope when we play Barrow we get as many people here as we can.

“We need a big dig from everyone.”