Whitehaven chairman Tommy Todd expects a close battle in the Good Friday derby at Derwent Park.

Ahead of the third clash of the year with old rivals Workington Town, he is anticipating a typically hard-fought contest with not much between the two teams.

“I remember one of the games last year at Derwent Park when Town won it after scoring from the last move of the match," said Todd.

“That was a real hammer blow for us and I don’t want to go through that again.

“But I do think the game will be close. Town always seem to raise their game against us, as we have already seen this year in the two previous games.”

Town won the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy game 32-16 at Derwent Park and then followed up at the Recreation Ground by winning the Ipro League One Cup game 22-6.

“We need to see a response to those two defeats and I am sure there will be," added Todd.

"Our early results in pre-season were poor but we have picked up well since then, making progress in the Challenge Cup and getting two league wins on the board.

“Apart from Dave Allen, who is still not 100 per cent after his ankle injury, we will have a fully fit squad and I know all of them are looking forward to the game.”

Jonathan Roberts of Leeds will have charge of the Good Friday derby for the first time. He was promoted to Grade One level two years ago.

His first pro game as a touch judge was back in 2007 when he officiated at Derwent Park when Workington played Keighley.

Haven’s Karl Olstrum was unsuccesful with an appeal against a two-match ban for a Grade B Punching charge when he appeared before the RFL Disciplinary Panel last night.