Workington Town coach Chris Thorman says they will have to bring their A game against Hunslet on Sunday – as they kick start their League 1 campaign.

After a lengthy lay-off due to the pandemic, Thorman admitted it was going to be hard to judge games completely but he said going to Hunslet for the opener would not be easy.

“It is difficult to judge at times because there have been no competitive games for such a long time,” he said.

“Hunslet play on a particularly narrow pitch so our forwards need to defend well. We need to have intent as Hunslet will have aggression and intent in everything they do.

“They have two experienced half-backs and a couple of big middle forwards with good strike back rowers and a very tactically aware number nine in Halafihi.

“They will no doubt be bringing their A game and we will need ours as well.”

Town will be without suspended duo Marcus O’Brien and Perry Singleton and Stevie Scholey will also be missing.

But Thorman is confident he has a strong squad to choose from.

He added: “We have already picked up a couple of suspensions, and they would have featured in my match day 17 so this is a squad game already. But we have strength in depth.”

Thorman said he was keen to keep building a squad for the future and says there is still more to do.

“We wanted a squad that was based on Cumbrian values and gives the club an identity and the fans are aware of the direction we want to go in.

“I have a policy where the players need to be good people as well as good rugby league players and I stand by that.

“We are not finished yet and there is still a process to get us where we want to be over the next year or two but I am more than confident in the squad that we have right now.”