The Cougars will rest some of their main men for the Northern Rail Cup game with Halifax tomorrow.

Peter Roe is wary some of his squad need a breather after their midweek exertions against West Bowling secured a spot in the Powergen Challenge Cup fourth round.

They had to battle hard early on before running out 34-0 victors at Odsal, setting up a trip to Featherstone and ensuring some much-needed extra money in the club pot.

With another rearranged Northern Rail Cup clash at Rochdale this Wednesday, the under-manned Cougars are already facing a busy schedule.

Roe said: "A few will get a rest and we'll look at rotating the squad.

"We're not going to progress in this

competition - we know we can't do that now - but we'll have a look at some of our other players against Halifax."

The Cougars lost out 38-10 against Fax in the reverse fixture and expect another tough contest from the Group Five leaders.

"Halifax are considered National League One championship contenders along with Widnes, Leigh, Whitehaven and Hull KR," said Roe.

"Anthony Farrell has recruited well and they will want to come and do a job on us.

"From our own perspective we are improving week on week even though we are coming up against tough National League One opposition.

"We are a young side with a sprinkling of experience and it is a big learning curve for us.

"I was just glad the lads finally got winning pay against Bowling on Wednesday night.

"They were gutted to lose by a point at Oldham the other week and the Challenge Cup victory made up for that in some way.

"These lads have been coming over training three or four nights a week and got what they deserved against Bowling."

That was the Cougars' first win of 2006 and it sets up an intriguing clash with LHF Healthplan National League Two rivals Featherstone.

However, Roe warned: "That is a game which is two weeks away and we have three difficult Northern Rail Cup games before it. When the time is right to look at Featherstone we will but not before."

After Fax and Rochdale, Keighley complete their Northern Rail Cup campaign with the visit of Oldham to Cougar Park next Sunday.

Despite losing all three fixtures so far, Roe has been pleased with the impact of many of his new players, some of whom shone against Bowling.

He said: "Mick Fogerty in the centre is only 23 but I don't know how the pro game has missed him.

"He really is a good lad while Alex Brown at 18 is fast and dangerous, showing up well since coming from Huddersfield Sharks.

"Richard Knight had another good game and with youngsters like Andy Feather, Marco Ferranzano and Toby Williams, we went well."

Cougars' player-coach Barry Eaton will run late fitness tests on Matt Foster (neck) and Darren Nixon (dead leg), while loan signing Dave Norcross could make his first-team debut.

Eaton said: "We have a few bumps and bruises after our Powergen Challenge Cup tie in midweek and the next ten days will be a real test of our resources as we have to play four times in that period.

"Halifax are a big side but if we can defend well, like we did on Wednesday night against West Bowling, then hopefully we'll have a good chance."

Halifax are also coming off the back of a midweek fixture, having battled past amateur outfit Kells 26-6 to book their place in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.

l The Keighley Past Players Association is holding its latest reunion at Cougar Park on Friday, March 24, starting at 7.30pm.

Everyone is welcome and contact Dave Ingham on 01535-663237 for more details.