OLDHAM hope to have senior forwards Martyn Reilly and Liam Kirk back in action against Halifax Panthers at Bower Fold on Saturday.

With several others in an injury-depleted squad, they missed the last two games at Batley Bulldogs and at London Broncos, but they trained well on Tuesday to raise hopes that they could be back for the second home league game of the season.

“So long as they don’t suffer a reaction to what they did on Tuesday, they should be available for weekend,” said head coach Matt Diskin, who confirmed that none of the others on the long casualty list would be ready in time.

Still out are Phil Joy, Danny Bridge and Ben Heaton, while Tyler Dupree and James Barran have been added to the list.

Dupree pulled a hamstring at London, while Barran got through that game after groin trouble only to suffer a recurrence at the end of training on Tuesday.

Both are expected to be out for a couple of weeks or so, but Diskin is buoyed by the possible return of Reilly and Kirk, the form of 19-year-old on-loan prop Jack Bibby at London and the capture on loan of another Super League youngster in Wakefield Trinity centre Jack Croft.

Bibby and 20-year-old Croft, who has played in eight Super League games, are expected to figure in Diskin’s provisional 21-man squad when he names it today.

“We are not having much luck just at present, but it’s good to get the Jacks on board (Bibby and Croft) and I’ve every confidence in all the lads we’ll have available on Saturday.

“Our attitude wasn’t good enough at Batley, but it was much better at London and I’m confident we can keep on improving.”

Croft, a rising star, looks sure to make his debut at Bower Fold.

Diskin said: “I’ve no doubt he’s got a big Super League future ahead of him, but what he needs now is game time and we can give him that.”

After two consecutive defeats on the road, Roughyeds are anxious to follow up their home win against Swinton Lions with another win at Bower Fold.

They will again play without the advantage of a home crowd, but chairman Chris Hamilton is urging as many fans as possible to sign up to watch the game on Our League.

“Currently, it’s our only source of income,” said Hamilton, “and we need lots of fans to tune in. It should be a cracking game.”

Supporters who buy the game before midnight on Friday will get it at a reduced price of £4.95.