By Matt Lawton
August 28 2004

The War of the Roses comes to Hilton Park this afternoon when West Yorkshire side Halifax Town make the short trip over the Pennines to face an RMI side still looking for their first Conference victory of the season. Leigh boss Phil Starbuck has been hit with a double injury blow following last weekend's 1-0 defeat at 10-man Woking with recent signing Greg Rioch and former Derby midfielder Gareth Holmes both sustaining knee ligament damage, which may keep them both out of action for a fairly lengthy period of time.

With assistant coach Gary Kelly still sidelined with his long-term thumb injury, Ian Martin will continue in goal while Gareth Stoker is set to return to the side in place of Holmes, with Stoker returning from suspension following his sending off in the 0-0 draw at Burton Albion.

Despite signing several strikers in the summer in the form of Chris Simms, Craig Mitchell and Karl Rose, RMI are reportedly on the look-out for yet another new striker as they try to plug the goalscoring gap which has appeared since the departure of last season's top scorer, David McNiven, to Scottish outfit Queen of the South.

The visitors are without midfielder Steve Haslam who has departed the Shay after just two games for the club, while Steve Bushell looks set to struggle to pass a late fitness test.