PAUL March is urging fans to turn out in force and see a raft of new recruits make their first appearance for Cougars in Sunday’s opening friendly at home to Oldham.

The Keighley head coach embarked on an impressive recruitment drive during the off-season which harvested the signings of Hull KR duo Aaron Ollett and Sonny Esslemont, along with Charlie Martin and Vinny Finigan, plus brothers Darren and Ritchie Hawkyard.

Finigan is nursing a shoulder complaint which may force him to miss Sunday’s game and Darren Hawkyard remains sidelined for another four or five weeks as he recovers from the shoulder surgery he underwent in October.

But March said: “Everyone who is fit will play some part on Sunday and I’m planning on playing all of the new boys with the exception of Darren Hawkyard.

“Vinny Finigan is touch and go at the minute but I’m hoping he will be passed fit and the likes of Aaron Ollett and Sonny Esslemont will definitely play.

“I think it’s an ideal opportunity for supporters to see the new faces straight away and hopefully they will get excited about what’s going to happen this year.

“The supporters know what last year’s squad can do but it’s about what these new guys are going to bring to us and I think people will be excited anyway to see their first rugby game of the new year.

“I’m hoping for a big crowd and that they will be excited by what they see.”

Despite the recent heavy rainfall, March believes the game is certain to go ahead and added: “It’ll be about playing the conditions and then, as the season progresses and the drier tracks kick in, I think you will see the best of what we’ve got to offer.

“Sunday’s game will definitely go ahead and friendlies are always good to get match fitness and try out different combinations ahead of the real thing.

“The lads are looking forward to getting back on the field after the disappointment of how the 2015 season ended.”

Oldham beat Cougars at Whitebank Stadium to win promotion to the Championship last season, with March’s side being denied the second promotion spot after losing to Swinton in the Play-Off Final at Widnes.

March is expecting a stern test from Scott Naylor’s side, saying: “I think it’s a win-win situation to be playing Oldham.

“We had some very close and tough games with them last season and that’s what you want.

“It would have been easy to play the lower-end clubs and just go through the motions, but we’re playing Oldham who have just been promoted and will then have a good test against Halifax at Cougar Park on Wednesday, January 20.

“Barrow (away on February 7) and Hunslet (home on February 14) will also be good games for us, so I think all four friendlies will be competitive. We will be trying out different combinations in all of them.”