HOLDERS Askam are without key players Mark Tyson and Sam Dowsett, along with four others, as they bid to overcome Millom in the Barton Townley Cup semi-final at Craven Park tonight (7pm kick-off).

Both players were sent off in the recent game at Leigh East, with Dowsett receiving a four-match ban and Tyson three. Also missing out are brothers Jake and Tom Spedding, Russ Bolton and Liam Saunders.

“We are without six regulars, but having a strong squad we have players to come in and do a job,” said Askam head coach Dave Clark.

“We will have to look at the centre positions with Bolton and Tyson out and we will bring Keir Shepherd in at number nine.

“Others will come into contention; lads that play A-team rugby who are capable of stepping up to the challenge.

“Millom will be coming into the game on the back of a good win over Clock Face, so it should be a good game”

The Woolybacks will be looking to get one over on their local rivals, who ditched them out of the competition in round one at Devonshire Road last season.

“Following our great win over Clock Face (36-22) on Saturday we will go into the game with an air of confidence,” said Millom coach Tom Sibley.

“Clock Face came to us with an unbeaten record and though they came back strong from 18-0 down to 24-22 we had enough to add a further 12 points.”

Jonathan Hodgson is expected to start after a six-week lay off with a hamstring injury. He played 20 minutes on Saturday and came through unscathed.

Also back in contention are Rickie Donaghue, Noah Robinson and Scott Fisher. Missing out are Hanley Dawson and Joe Wright.

Walney Central await the winners in the show-piece final on Wednesday May 23 at Craven Park.