PAUL Crook, Oldham’s stand-off and goalkicker, is doubtful with a foot injury for Oldham RL Club’s massive game against Bradford Bulls at the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday (3pm).

He didn’t resume for the second half at York last week and he wasn’t able to train on Tuesday night.

“I expect everybody else to be OK, but Crooky’s struggling so he’s got to be doubtful,” said head coach Scott Naylor. In the second half at York, and on other occasions when Crook hasn’t been on the field this season, Gareth Owen moved into the halves.

As for goalkicking, Luke Hooley is a recognised marksman and he enjoys the responsibility and the pressure.

In Crook’s absence, he kicked the one goal Roughyeds scored in a 10-6 defeat against the Betfred League 1 leaders and will be favourite to get the job again if Crook fails to make it.

Roughyeds’ last home game of the regular season coincides with the club’s biggest and most important challenge.

Bradford need to win to take their title challenge into the last weekend of the campaign (anything less would almost certainly hand automatic promotion to York), while Roughyeds know what’s needed to ensure a play-off spot. Wins in their final two games against the Bulls and then London Skolars away on Saturday week and they can’t be caught, such is the significance of their vastly superior for-and-against difference over rivals Whitehaven and Hunslet.

A loss on Sunday wouldn’t be decisive, but Naylor’s men would then be banking on both Hunslet and Whitehaven losing at least one of their last two and that’s unlikely.

Said Naylor: “It’s not rocket science to work out that we’ll have to be at our best against a side like Bradford, but we’re in it to win it and we believe we can win it.

“We had plenty of belief at York but we ran out of time. Another five minutes and I think we would have won it.”

York people, including coach James Ford, were fulsome in their praise of the Roughyeds, whom they agreed were the toughest side seen at Bootdham Crescent this season.

Knights fans have since been going on social media and forums to wish Naylor’s boys good luck on Sunday.

The game will attract the biggest crowd of the season — perhaps the biggest since Roughyeds moved into what was then called Whitebank in 2010.

It isn’t all-ticket, but tickets have been on sale and when The Oldham Times went to press yesterday, nearly every seat was sold.

Standing tickets can be purchased at the Roughyeds office between 10am and 3pm today (Thursday) and tomorrow (cash or cheque only).

Turnstiles will open at 1pm and fans are urged to arrive early to ease congestion at the turnstiles.

There will be parking for between 50 and 60 cars at Limehurst Primary School and Nursery on Sunday afternoon.

A large crowd is anticipated and fans travelling in cars are asked to park responsibly and certainly NOT in front of drives and/or garages.

To ease the situation Limehurst Primary, situated on Whitebank Road just a few minute’s walk from the ground, will make their facilities available at a charge of £3 per car for school funds.

The club wishes to publicly thank the head, Mr Roberts, for his kind gesture.

Thanks also to site manager Brendan Slater, who will be on site from 1pm to 5.30pm to supervise and assist where needed.