WIDNES RUFC get their campaign up and running this Saturday at home to Oldham in the Lancashire Trophy first round (ko 3pm).
Coach Lee McDermott has been 'really pleased' with the pre-season preparation which culminated in the final trial game against Birchfield on Saturday.
McDermott looked at 28 players from first, second and third teams over the four quarters and confessed it had been ideal preparation for the Oldham game.
'It was hard and physical and just what we wanted,' he said.
'Birchfield played very well, scoring the winning try in the last minute of the final quarter.
'We tried a lot of different combinations and lacked a bit of continuity with so many changes.
'But the main object was to get a lot of contact and intensity which you can't get on the training ground.'
Phil Glover, Mark Whitfield, Andy Riley, Andy O'Neill, Simon Alderson, Ste Vickerstaffe, Liam Morton and Dave Howard will all be back and available for selection this weekend.
Mark Field, Andy McIntosh and Peter Logan are scheduled to return for the first league game against Aspull the following Saturday.
