Joint leaders Ince Rose Bridge come to Rating Lane to face Barrow Island tomorrow as the home side look to put two successive defeats to bed and get back on track in their chase of a play-off place in Division Two of the National Conference League.

Home losses against West Bowling and Hull Dockers have dented Barrow Island’s hopes of automatic promotion and they face another difficult 80 minutes against the Wigan side.

Coach Joe Elliott is aware of the task ahead in their quest for a top five finish, saying: “We need to get on a run to get in the play-offs having three out of our last four games at home.We have to be more consistent having had a couple of disappointing results lately.

“Ince are a good side but we did give them a good game at their place so it is in our own hands as to how we finish.

“Some good news is that Joey Rimmer is out of hospital. Joey is the newborn son of Peter and we wish the family all the best. Peter has been a big miss for us in recent games, as he takes us forward.”

Joe Spenceley, Josh Banham and Ryan Clegg are unavailable and for Clegg his season could be over as he has a hamstring injury.

Clegg has been ‘Mr Consistency’ with his forceful running and the Island players now have to pull together and get on with the job in hand.

Another blow for them is that Blain Marwood has joined the paid ranks at Workington, following in the footsteps of dad Dean who had some good years at Town.

Island are sixth in the ladder on 19 points, with nine wins, one draw and eight defeats.

Askam are in a race against the clock to find 17 players for the trip to Bradford Dudley Hill with so many players unavailable. Key forwards Jamie Butler and Tom Hopkins are amongst those unable to travel.

It is dilemma time for the Villagers, who cannot afford to forfeit the game as they have already a £500 fine on hold after failing to go to Crossfields earlier in the season.

And to make matters worse they have been informed they must go to Warrington for a Wednesday fixture that will kick off at 7pm..

Stand-in Coach Tammy Tyson is not happy with the ruling. He said: “We struggle for numbers for Saturdays, never mind a midweek game, especially away. They want us to go on a Wednesday night between two Saturday games.

“The only Saturday available was the 24th, but it clashed with Warrington going to Wembley and, rightly so, the Crossfield lads want to be there.

“However we were not offered the Wednesday three days before Wembley.”