Featherstone Rovers will be strengthened for their visit to Whitehaven tonight with the return of five players.

It’s a welcome boost for Rovers coach Jon Sharp as he sends out his team looking for their first win since they were last in Cumbria on April 10.

They proved much too strong for Workington Town on that occasion and went back home with a 52-6 win.

Half-back Kyle Briggs is in Featherstone’s 19-man squad after returning to full training this week. He has been sidelined out since he damaged ankle ligaments in the Easter Monday game at London Broncos.

Rovers coach Jon Sharp said: “The return of Kyle is a bonus. He’s trained well this week and is looking forward to getting back onto the pitch.”

It had been anticipated that Briggs wouldn’t be ready until the Summer Bash at Blackpool.

Tim Spears, Colton Roche, Andy Ellis and Danny Craven are also set to return after missing Sunday’s defeat at Oldham.

Spears will resume the captaincy, while Roche has trained well since leaving the pitch with an ankle injury in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup game against Batley Bulldogs.

With Andy Ellis available for selection and Danny Craven hopefully available following last Sunday’s late withdrawal for medical reasons Sharp has a stronger squad for what he expects to be a tough test.

Sharp said: “It’s crucial that we get a win on Saturday at Whitehaven. I’m pleased that we’re getting some bodies back, Tim Spears was a 50/50 call last week whilst the return of Kyle Briggs is a bonus.”

Featherstone’s squad is Craven, Johnson, Taulapapa, Briggs, Thackeray, Griffin, Bostock, Davies, Spears, Hardman, Roche, Ormondroyd, Cording, Cooper, Tagg, Ellis, Foster, Abdull and Baldwinson

This is Whitehaven’s catch-up game after the original fixture was called-off in February because of a waterlogged pitch.