Some key players will be missing when Whitehaven visit Oldham tomorrow in the new 1895 Cup.

Although the new competition offers the finalists a trip to Wembley promotion from League One this season remains most club’s objective.

That’s been intensified at the Recreation Ground because of the start Whitehaven have made, and are currently a point clear at the top after a great season kick-off.

Coach Gary Charlton explained: “As far as we are concerned gaining promotion is our number one target, so anybody carrying the slightest knock is being rested.

“I obviously don’t know for certain about Oldham but I would imagine they will do the same.”

Skipper Marc Shackley, PNG powerhouse Dion Aiye and livewire half-back Callum Phillips will not be included.

However, Ruairi McGoff and young Jake Bradley will be included and Scott McAvoy - one of Charlton’s assistants - will start on the bench.

“We are looking to give people some game time that they may have been short of recently.”

Whitehaven lost at Oldham in the second League One game of the season, in what was their poorest performance so far.

Oldham coach Scott Naylor will pick from 21 - 16 of the 17 who helped Roughyeds to win 72-8 at West Wales Raiders last Saturday plus Phil Joy, Ben Calland, Adam Brook, Matty Wilkinson and former Haven forward Ben Davies.

Brook and Wilkinson have been cleared to play after injury but Anthony Bowman (broken ribs) and Aaron Jones-Bishop (knee) are still missing.

The odd man out from last week is young on-loan prop Frazer Morris, who has gone back to Halifax.

Hooker Wilkinson has been out with concussion while half-back Brook comes back into the running after breaking a wrist in the win against London Skolars at the Vestacare Stadium on March 24.

Second-row man Danny Bridge is likely to make his first home appearance since last July after clearing a nine-month RFL suspension.