Chris Taylor is said to be 50-50 for Whitehaven’s Good Friday derby against Workington Town.

Tough-tackling Taylor, a centre who has been used at full-back, did some light work at training on Tuesday night.

He will be assessed further tonight when Whitehaven hold their second session of the week ahead of the game at Derwent Park.

Coach Gary Charlton said: “We are hoping that Chris will be fine to play. He got through Tuesday’s session ok, so fingers crossed we will have him ready to return.”

Taylor was pulled out of the Hunslet game after only a few minutes with what looked like a hamstring injury. But it has since been diagnosed as sciatic nerve related.

But Dave Thompson will not be risked, although his knee injury is not as serious as was first thought.

“It’s not as bad as was first suggested and another couple of weeks could see him back in contention,” said Charlton.

Fellow winger Andrew Bulman (fractured cheekbone) and Ethan Kelly (broken arm) are both longer-term injuries which will keep them sidelined until next month.

However, Whitehaven’s new loan signing Jake Carter was at training on Tuesday and is in contention for a place in the derby day squad.

“He looked sharp and very confident with the ball in hand. Jake is very well thought of at Barrow and he will be considered for a place in the squad for Friday,” said Charlton.

The 20-year-old is the son of former Workington Town half-back Darren Carter who played at Derwent Park under coach Peter Walsh.

Nick Bennett will be taking charge of his first west Cumbrian derby but he will be familiar to Workington Town.

He controlled their last League One game when they lost 34-32 to London Skolars.

The only time he has officiated in the middle in west Cumbria was at last year’s Challenge Cup tie when Toronto Wolfpack beat Kells 56-6 at the Recreation Ground.