Whitehaven will try to repeat last week’s winning formula when they prepare for Monday’s home clash with Halifax.

Once again the squad will train the day before the game with the travellers staying overnight ready for the Championship game the following day.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “It acted as a bonding session in many ways and went really well so obviously was something we had to do again.

“This will be a different kind of challenge, though, and I know that nobody thinks Halifax will be a soft touch because they have lost six in a row. They are potentially the best team in the Championship Shield and we will be treating them with a lot of respect.”

Whitehaven have followed their normal early-week training programme with the Lancashire-based players and locals working separately on Tuesday before getting together at the Recreation Ground on Wednesday.

There was good news, too, on the injury front as both Jessie Joe Parker and Grant Gore trained fully with no apparent set-backs. They had been taken off as a precaution against Workington because of hamstring concerns.

Whitehaven general manager Amanda Hewer said: “Both reported their hamstring tightening against Town so it was thought best to get them off the field. They trained with no reaction on Wednesday and are both confident they will be ready.”

The four-man collective in charge of the squad have been settling into the roles this week after being thrust into the spotlight days before the Town game.

One of them, Carl Forster said: “I think we are all enjoying the input and it seems to be working well. Craig and Scott are both injured so they are perfectly placed to run the touchline while Dave and myself can concentrate on what’s going on in the game.”