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New boy could give Eagles the Ex factor
SHEFFIELD Eagles must tame the Batley Bulldogs tonight to keep their grip on a play-off place.
The Bulldogs are snapping at the Eagles place in the top six, as the teams clash at Don Valley stadium (8pm.)
"Batley are buzzing with their tails up," said Eagles coach Mark Aston. "It is a massive game but we can win.
"We've won four out of our last five and we're playing well in patches - for 60 minutes last weekend. Now we need some 80-minute performances. Batley are a side that don't make many mistakes so we'll have to force the mistakes."
Aston is set pick an unchanged 17 but faces a decision on a tactical switch in his starting 13.
Papua New Guinea international Trevor Exton may have forced his way into a back row for the kick-off.
Aston said: "We might change it about a bit. Trevor is ready for a start and made a massive impact coming off the bench against Doncaster - the question is, do we start him or keep him on the bench?"
The Eagles forced their way into the Co-operative Championship play-off places with a 78-8 crushing of crisis club Doncaster.
Batley will be a very different challenge. Under former Salford coach Karl Harrison the Bulldogs have gone from relegation candidates to the fringe of the play-offs, bringing second-placed Barrow Raiders to heel with a 46-16 win last Sunday.
Aston has studied the DVD of that game and said: "Against Barrow Batley were 16-0 up after 15 minutes
"They don't make many mistakes, although Barrow were very ordinary and there were some soft tries. But you have to credit Batley with a good work ethic.
"They have good players in key positions - the half-backs are strong, the hooker does the right things at the right times and the big fellas do the simple things well."
Key players for Batley will be stand-off Paul Handforth, who has made a massive impact since his recent move from the Dons, and his half-back partner, Paul Mennell.
Their clash with the Eagles' Brendon Lindsay and Kyle Wood will be a major factor in deciding who takes the three points.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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