Whitehaven will open their pre-season build-up at Keighley on Sunday, facing a team who have already had the opportunity to blow away winter cobwebs.

The Cougars were far too strong for amateur side Hunslet Warriors, scoring 16 tries in an 82-12 victory at Lawkholme Lane at the weekend.

Andy Gabriel and Callum Dunne each scored four tries but the main talking point for Keighley fans was a positive performance from trialist Adam Ryder who helped himself to a couple of tries.

Ryder is on trial from the rugby union club Huddersfield YMCA, who are mid-table in North One East, where Penrith are chasing the title and promotion to national level.

Whether Whitehaven will see anything of Ryder on Sunday is unclear because after the game the Keighley coach Craig Lingard said: “He’s done everything that we can ask of him.

"He’s only allowed to trial up until after the Hunslet game, so we either need to extend his trial or need to sign him on.”

But Lingard has confirmed both James Feather and Brendan Rawlins, two of his most experienced players, will be back in the team to face Whitehaven.

Rawlins and his family have been in Australia but he expects to have a week’s training ahead of Whitehaven’s visit and like Feather, who was rested on Sunday, will be ready to take on Carl Forster’s new-look side.

Forster has four warm-up games ahead of the opening competitive game, the League Cup tie at home to Workington Town on February 19, and plans to give everyone a chance to shine.

“Competition for places is what we are after and players have to earn the shirt, so that’s what I’m expecting from everyone from day one,” said Forster.

The coach has been pleased with the training programme in the build-up to the friendlies and now it’s up to the squad members to prove their worth.

All four friendly games are away from home as Haven follow-up at Barrow (January 22), Newcastle (January 28) and Workington (February 5).