Cup run so vital - Naylor

Challenge Cup

SCOTT Naylor has outlined the importance of a decent cup run for a club like Oldham.

While acknowledging that progress in the Kingstone Press Championship is the Roughyeds' priority, he said there was money to be made in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup and that was a major incentive.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's fourth-round clash with amateurs Haydock at Bower Fold (kick-off 1pm, streamed live by BBC Sport), the Oldham boss said: "The big thing about the cup for us is the opportunity to help the club financially.

"We'd had some lean times, then last year we had our share of gates in ties against Hull KR and Warrington Wolves and from the financial point of view it was a lot better.

"A club like ours has to explore every avenue for bringing in revenue. We need more money, and that's stating the obvious."

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He said Haydock will come with a similar mindset to the one that proved successful for Oldham at Hull KR in the fifth round last year.

"It's a role reversal," he added, "and our challenge is to make sure we don't fall into the trap that caused Hull KR to come unstuck.

"We've been talking about it all week. But the lads aren't daft.

"They know Haydock will give it everything they've got, and more, but they also know that if we match their enthusiasm and desire, our levels will see us through.

"We've two options. We can turn up, show Haydock every respect, play with the energy levels we had at Rochdale last week and go through.

"Or we can be disrespectful, have the wrong attitude and chance being made to look silly."

Full-back Scott Turner, who picked up a knee injury in the 26-all draw at Rochdale, will not be risked.

Richard Lepori will be a shoe-in to switch from wing to full-back with Jamel Chisholm in line to get his chance again on the left wing.

Sammy Gee and Liam Thompson are said to be available for selection after recovering respectively from ankle and thigh-muscle injuries.

Oldham (from): Lepori; Clay, Tyson, Grimshaw, Gill, Chisholm; Leatherbarrow, Hewitt; Neal, Owen, Davies, Thompson, Langtree, Spencer, Gee, Burke, Hughes, Ward.

Home and away replica jerseys will be on sale (cash or cheque, £45 adults, £35 children)) from a point inside the ground near the social club.

Fans in the main stand won't have access, but if they ring the club on 07904898177 today, jerseys will be available for collection at Bower Fold's main reception.

Summer Bash tickets, free to season-ticket holders, can also be collected on production of passes - from main reception, 11.30am to 12.45pm, for seat holders; from the sales point inside the ground, noon to 12.45pm, for standing-pass holders.

Other fans wishing to buy Summer Bash tickets can do so inside the ground, again cash or cheque only.

St Anne's and Haydock juniors will form guards of honour, while others from St Anne's will be in charge of the giant Ladbrokes promo banner.