Workington Town go in search of their second Co-operative Championship One triumph of 2009 but boss Dave Rotheram will be aware of the banana-skin nature of the clash with London Skolars.

Along with Celtic Crusaders, London Skolars are the only team yet to record a win in this year’s league fixtures.

But Skolars boss Carlisle-born Callum Irving remains confident. He said: “We’re looking forward to this one.

“We’ve probably had a few too many blank weekends this year, but it sits quite nicely for us as a club. We’re really excited to go up to Cumbria and have a good crack at Workington.

“It’s going to be a bit of scrap because they’ll be expected to win the game and they’re under a bit of pressure. We’re under a similar pressure but probably from ourselves rather than anybody else.”

Chad Isles remains out for the Skolars due to a shoulder injury but Irving is convinced his squad has the firepower to cope.

He said: “We’re better than what we’re producing and we want to get this monkey off our back.

“There’s something special about Derwent Park and we’re looking forward to getting up there.”

Defeat is unthinkable for Rotheram and Town. The under-fire coach knows his team has to deliver at Derwent Park on Sunday.

“The big thing is we need to be focused. It isn’t a question of turning up expecting to win, They have almost certainly targeted this as a winnable game because our results would indicate we haven’t been gone too well either.

“It is more about us than them – we have to make sure we are the best team on the day,” said Rotheram.

Tommy Brindle is poised to return from a back injury and is likely to be involved up front with Joe McKenna who has joined on loan from Barrow.

Centre Stephen Dawes and stand-off Carl Forber are also back in the squad as Town appear to have a little more strength in depth this week-end.

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