Crusaders v Tigers: Teams
Celtic Crusaders will be hoping to break their duck against a Castleford side missing Joe Westerman and Craig Huby.
Last Updated: 25/04/09 3:51am
Celtic Crusaders will be hoping to finally break their Super League duck when they host Castleford on Sunday afternoon.
The Brigend-based club have found life tough going in the top flight so far and are yet to register a single point from their first nine matches.
However, they have twice come close to victories on home soil, losing just 4-0 to St Helens only seven days after suffering a narrow 28-20 defeat to Hull.
Coach John Dixon has recalled forwards Jordan James and Chris Beasley, while also naming Andy Ballard in his initial 19-man squad.
Try-scoring full-back Tony Duggan is still absent while Darren Mapp has been ruled out of this weekend's clash with a groin injury.
Missing Tigers
Castleford make the trip to south Wales without the services of Joe Westerman and Craig Huby.
The Tigers have decided not to risk Westerman after the loose forward was taken to hospital last Sunday having suffered fits following a collision during the Tigers 68-22 thrashing at the hands of Sy Helens.
The 19-year-old is recovering well but coach Terry Matterson has made the decision to rest the player for another week.
"We're going to be careful with him," said club spokesman David Smart. "Joe came in again this morning but Terry sent him home to rest.
Huby will also be staying at home after he suffered a broken hand in the same game at the Jungle. He is expected to be out for around six weeks.
Matterson can at least call upon centre James Evans and forwards Chris Feather, Brett Ferres and Stuart Jones, the quartet all set to return after missing the match against Saints.
Teenagers Jordan Thompson and John Davies, who have yet to experience Super League, are also included in Castleford's 19-man party.
Celtic Crusaders squad: Beasley, Blackwood, Bryant, Budworth, Chalk, Chan, Dalle Cort, Dyer, Van Dijk, Hannay, A. James, J. James, Lupton, O'Hara, Peek, Quinn, Tangata-Toa, Ballard, Withers.
Castleford squad: Owen, Dixon, Shenton, Evans, Wainwright, Chase, Sherwin, Sargent, Ferres, Jones, Higgins, Feather, Boyle, Netherton, Ford, Faumuina, McGoldrick, Thompson, Davies.