Forget about the past - Naylor

SCOTT NAYLOR

OLDHAM coach Scott Naylor has told his players to focus on the present and not the past as they prepare for Bank Holiday Monday's derby Shield clash with Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena (3pm).

The local rivals have met four times already this season in league and cup.

The Roughyeds denied victory by two late Hornets tries in a 26-26 draw in March. They then held a 14-point lead at the break in the Summer Bash showdown in May, but a second-half collapse saw them slip to defeat.

In the final game of the regular season, the Roughyeds trailed 18-0 before finally succumbing 34-24.

With his side battling to beat the drop, Naylor insists those results will have no bearing on Monday's outcome.

He said: "It's been a weird season with regard to the derby games. Putting the Law Cup to one side, we had Rochdale beat twice.

"That's frustrating, because they are a team we feel comfortable against.

"The Summer Bash has become a hoodoo as we can't get over the line in that one for some reason.

"Those games have gone none, though. They're in the past and not important. It's all about Monday.

"If we come out on top, we get two points, possibly move above Swinton and drag Rochdale into it.

"That means there are three teams fighting to stay in the division."

Oldham are second-bottom in the Championship with four Shield games to go. They are level on points with Swinton and three behind Rochdale.

A major boost for the Roughyeds sees Adam Neal available for the first time since the start of July after the second row completed his recovered from a broken jaw.

Also in the mix are Kenny Hughes, Liam Thompson and Danny Grimshaw after all three missed last Sunday's come-from-behind draw at Batley because of injury.

Those four will be added to the 17 which travelled to Mount Pleasant. A final decision on the match-day squad will be made tomorrow.