CRAIG LINGARD is poised to make changes for Cougars' opening League One game at home to North Wales Crusaders on Sunday.

The Keighley chief did not mince his words in the aftermath of the narrow Challenge Cup win over amateurs Fryston, labelling their performance 'pathetic'.

He said: "We've won our first two competitive games which is all you can do but we need to dust ourselves off this week.

"There is likely to be some rotation as some performances weren’t quite up to the standard that we require, so others might get a chance."

"We're hoping Matty Bailey, Nathan Conroy and Adam Brook are back as soon as possible and in contention for a spot."

Ben Sagar is struggling with a hamstring injury and is set to be sidelined for several weeks.

Ten players – including two Cougars – were charged by the RFL following the fiery cup encounter with Fryston, and Lingard is annoyed at how his side lost their discipline.

He said: "We’ve got to be smarter and more professional and more switched on when we play teams like that.

"Whether you are playing a Super League, Championship, League One or amateur team your level should be exactly the same."

However, Lingard added: "Although we weren’t happy with the way we played on Saturday, we still came out with the win. We know we can grind it out if we need to and win ugly. I'd have been a lot more disappointed if we’d got beat."

Crusaders slipped to defeat against the All Golds in the Challenge Cup last week but showed they are no pushovers by defeating last year’s beaten iPro Sport Cup finalists York City Knights in this season’s first round.

“They play some good rugby and if we let them get on a roll they’ll cause a bit of trouble”, added Lingard who again wants to see an improvement in Keighley’s goal-line defence.

The head coach admits the loss of Whittel, who faces three months on the sidelines, is a big blow.

The 22-year-old former Bradford Bulls Academy player had made an impressive start to his Cougars career since joining from Gloucester in the off-season.

Lingard said: “He’s obviously devastated in terms of missing next three months. He’s come to us and been absolutely outstanding in pre-season – in his work ethic, in training and in the way he has played.

“ I’m devastated to lose him from our team and for him as he has worked so hard.”

Meanwhile, Lingard said the club were not pursuing their interest in an Aussie prop at present – recommended to them by England coach Wayne Bennett – as the player had not responded to them.