WIDNES coach Lee McDermott says it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep pace with bigger clubs, ahead of the attractive Lancashire Cup home tie with high-flying Liverpool St Helens on Sunday (ko 2.30pm).
LSH have already secured promotion to North One as champions with a 100% league record so far.
McDermott remains confident but has to reshuffle his line-up.
Gareth Riley and Andy McIntosh are both missing in the backs so Rob Critchley and Peter Logan are drafted in.
Adam Loughnane comes in at hooker, while second-row Richie Barraclough returns for Mark Loughnane.
McDermott said: 'It is now nearly impossible to get a result against higherplaced opposition who can bring in overseas players and employ full-time coaches.
'Widnes is a great club, with terrific facilities, and the side that plays this weekend will be made up of local lads.'
Widnes (v LSH, home, Sunday, meet 1pm): A O'Neill, T Ledson, A Riley, R Critchley, A Fretwell, P Glover, P Logan, L Wilde, A Loughnane, L Morton, T Farmer, R Barraclough, K Farrow, K Shingler, P Borg. Reps; S Alderson, B Hazzard, D Howard, J Skarratts, C Leedam.
Widnes 2nd (v Birkenhead Park, home, Saturday, meet 1.30pm): G Hatton, M Hill, C Leedam, M Whitfield, K McGreevey, J Parker, I Winstanley, D Dyer, J Skarratts, N Preston, C Clarke, S Duffy, S Morgan, M Loughnane, D Breeden. Reps; C Winstanley, M Koo, R Clarke, V Evans, R Council, P Swain. n The Colts have a Halbro League Cup game on Sunday, 12.30pm kick-off.
