Batley Bulldogs: Leigh trip is great chance to '˜upset the applecart' urges Diskin

It will be Batley’s first game in the Betfred Championship after last week’s visit to Rochdale Hornets were postponed. Relegated Leigh were in action six days ago, losing 34-12 at home to Toronto Wolfpack.

Bulldogs coach Matt Diskin said: “We’d have liked to start off with a win against Rochdale. This is a tough challenge and they will be reeling after last week, but it is a great opportunity for us to go there and upset the applecart. There’s no external pressure, nobody expects us to win, but we are excited about it.”

He added: “There was a level of expectancy last year which some of the players struggled with. I think being underdogs will suit us as a group.”

Leigh are seeking their first win since being relegated from Betfred Super League and Diskin feels the longer Batley can stay in the contest, the more nervous the home side will get.

“They are a big, physical team,” he observed.

“They have smart No9s and they will try and dominate us physically and play off the back of that, but knowing my group and the spirit they have, they will be fighting tooth and nail.”

Joe Chandler has failed a concussion test and will miss out, but Brad Day could return from long-term injury.