Crusaders v Rovers: Teams
Loan signings Aled James, Joe Burke and Dalton Grant could all feature for the depleted Crusaders against Rovers.
Last Updated: 09/07/11 5:23pm
Crusaders coach Iestyn Harris has turned to South Wales Scorpions for help in filling out his squad following the suspension of seven players.
The Welsh club announced on Thursday that Jason Chan, Gil Dudson, Richard Moore, Peter Lupton, Jordan Tansey, Jarrod Sammut and Lloyd White will not be considered for Saturday's match against Hull KR.
With Hep Cahill also ruled out through suspension, Harris found himself with a serious lack of options for the clash with Rovers at the Racecourse.
To help bolster the ranks Aled James, Joe Burke and Dalton Grant have all arrived on one-month loan deals from their sister club, the Scorpions, and go straight into the 19-man squad.
Both Burke and Grant have yet to appear in Super League but James is no stranger to playing in the top flight, having previously turned out for Widnes.
"It's like a fourth Crusaders debut for me," he said on the club's official website. "I started in the Crusaders in the first season in 2006.
"I went back into rugby union for a bit with Glamorgan Wanderers and then I came back in 2008 and 2009 and played some Super League.
"Then earlier this year I played in pre-season friendlies for Crusaders. No matter how many times I feel that it was my last game for Crusaders, I keep coming back."
Crusaders are also boosted by the return from injury of captain Clinton Schifcofske, who will slot straight into the side at full-back.
Rovers, meanwhile, have again left out Ben Cockayne and Liam Watts - the duo were both suspended by the club before last Sunday's 70-14 thrashing of Wakefield.
Recalled winger Peter Fox made the most of Cockayne's absence by scoring a hat-trick of tries in the rout of the Wildcats.
Coach Justin Morgan - who continues to be linked with a move to Super League rivals Castleford - could, therefore, retain the same 17.
Meanwhile, the Robins, who have scored 104 points in their last two outings, did receive a major boost this week with the news that Michael Dobson will be staying at Craven Park for the 2012 campaign.
Crusaders squad: Schifcofske, Thomas, Martin, Mellars, Reardon, Witt, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Winternstein, J. James, Flower, Kear, Johnson, Moore, L. Williams, A. James, Burke, Grant.
Hull KR squad: Briscoe, Cook, Dobson, Fisher, Fox, Galea, Green, Hodgson, Latus, Lovegrove, Murrell, Netherton, Newton, Sheriff, Taylor, Vella, Wheeldon, Webster, Welham.
