MILLOM need to pull a rabbit from the hat in their relegation battle tomorrow.

The Woollybacks welcome National Conference Division Two leaders East Leeds to Devonshire Road in the only game to be played in South Cumbria.

Askam, Barrow Island, Hindpool and Ulverston are all on their travels.

MILLOM v EAST LEEDS

(Devonshire Road, 2.30pm)

ROSS Brookes and Owen Myers return for the Woollybacks as they face a tough hurdle against National Conference Division Two leaders East Leeds.

It is a game Millom cannot afford to lose, as they sit in the relegation danger zone, lying third-bottom with just three wins from 11 outings.

Last week, they went down 32-20 at Thornhill – a game in which coach Tom Sibley thought his team played reasonably well.

Sibley said: “Despite the result, we played quite well. They were a good side, but we stuck in without a cluster of first-teamers.

“At one stage, we fought back with good rugby and it could have gone either way, so we can build upon that result tomorrow.”

Millom were off to a bad start at Thornhill, conceding a first-minute try then leaking a further two as the Yorkshire side built up a 14-6 lead.

The visitors hit back in the second half, but it was not enough to claim the points.

While former Barrow Raiders man Brookes and and Furness Raiders Academy player Myers return to the side tomorrow, Jonathan Hodgson, Noah Robinson, Luke Brady, Connor Mitchell and Jarty Robinson sit the game out.

East Leeds had a massive 78-13 win over Salford City Roosters last week, against opponents who could only muster 12 players.

SADDLEWORTH RANGERS v ASKAM

ASKAM are on the road to Saddleworth to a ground where they often struggle to get a result.

Saddleworth's home does not suit their style of play, as it is normally a heavy pitch, but a big plus for the Villagers is the return of BARLA Great Britain amateur international Sam Dowsett, along with brother Joe.

The dynamic hooker has been released by Workington, whom he joined in the close season.

Tom Butler and Brad Kavanagh are unavailable as Askam look to pick up another two points on the back of their 32-18 home win over Drighlington last week.

Coach Mike Wilson said: “It is a difficult pitch to play on, always heavy, and they always have a big set of forwards.

“It was good to get a win last week, but I felt we coughed up too much ball at times, which kept Drighlington in the game, so we must control the ball more if we are to get the right result this weekend.

“We beat them by more than 50 points at home earlier in the season, but they will be a different team at home.”

WOOLSTON ROVERS v BARROW ISLAND

A WIN for Barrow Island will enable them to leapfrog their hosts in National Conference Division Three.

But the Rating Lane side travel without Joe Mallinson and Matty Sayle, though, on the plus-side, Joe Spenceley returns.

Island coach Joe Elliott said: “Joe Mallinson will be a big miss, as he has been in top form, but with Matt Parkinson and Carl McBain back in the side we should still be strong up front.

“Kicking was our downfall last week. We missed several kicks at goal without Jake Stockdale and Jake Carter, so we must get that department right. Kicks at goal are vital in tight situations.”

LEIGH MINERS A v HINDPOOL TIGERS

SIX men in and six men out – and still counting – is the situation that faces Hindpool coach Phil Cubiss ahead of their trip to Leigh in North West Men's League Division One.

He said: “As usual, injuries and work are causing problems, but it can't be helped and I still don't know which 17 will take to the field.

“We took a bare 17 to Simms Cross last week (where Hindpool lost 40-22) and did quite well, there were only six points in it at half-time, but we tired in the second half.”

DISTINGTON v ULVERSTON

ULVERSTON travel to the west of the county for a second successive weekend in the Cumbria League.

The Dragley Beck side go without James Porter, Jack Akred, Howard Rowley, Matt Miller, Johnny Hutton and Adam Wilson, while Connor Saunders and Marc Storey are rated 50-50.

Coach Phil Atkinson is looking for an improvement on last week, when they lost 46-10 at Wath Brow Hornets A, on an afternoon when Distington were coasting to a 30-0 win over Seaton.

The former Barrow Raiders player said: “For the first 20 minutes, we matched Wath Brow with some good work in defence, then we blew it – conceding 26 points in the next 20 minutes.

“Having said that, we were a little rusty, not having played for more than a month.

“We will have to play smart and control what should be a big set of forwards at Distington, so it will be a big ask of the lads.”