Head coach Alan Kilshaw has warned his players, and the club’s supporters, that London Skolars must not be taken lightly ahead of Saturday’s fixture at the New River Stadium, Haringey.

London lie bottom of the early Betfred League One table, with defeats in their first two matches, but `Killer’ said: “Skolars are traditionally slow starters. Because of their locality they struggle to get trial games in before the start of the season and it therefore takes them a few matches to get going. But we won’t read too much into their form because we know how strong they can be, especially at home. They have some good athletes, they can be very physical, and they have had two weeks to prepare for this game.

“I am sure we will be seeing the best version of London Skolars on Saturday; we know how hard we need to work to produce the performance we want, and what it’s going to take to secure the result we want.”

On his own side, he reflected: “We have a couple of enforced changes, through suspension and injury, which presents opportunities to other players who we’re excited to see in a Hunslet shirt.”

Prop Lewis Wray is out, having been handed a one-match suspension after being red-carded for striking in the recent victory over North Wales Crusaders. Winger Dan McGrath, who had to be helped off during the narrow Betfred Challenge Cup reverse at the hands of the Championship’s Keighley Cougars, is also unavailable through concussion protocols while winger Kieron Lawton is a week away from recovering from an ankle injury sustained against North Wales. Captain Steve Crossley, though, has recovered from the illness that ruled him out of the Keighley game, and stand-off Jake Sweeting, who was not risked against the Cougars through a minor shoulder injury, is back at full fitness. Hooker Jamie Greenwood is also included in Hunslet’s 21-man squad after having completed a six-game suspension imposed during his time with amateurs Siddal. New signing Alfie Goddard, who has switched from Lock Lane, will be on the bus, too, as it heads south.

Hunslet (at London Skolars, Saturday 18 March, 3.00pm). From: Jimmy Watson, Jack Render, Adam Ryder, Joe Burton, Jake Sweeting, Nathan Conroy, Harvey Hallas, Sam Hallas, Steve Crossley, Josh Jordan-Roberts, Aaron York, Michael Knowles, Nathan Newbound, Jordan Syme, Harvey Whiteley, Liam Carr, Jamie Greenwood, Jordan Bull, Sean Croston, Brad Wheeler, Alfie Goddard.