Fax looking to bounce back in the Challenge Cup

Gilmore pulls up, we’ll assess things again.

“There’s the dual-reg option with Huddersfield as well, so overall I don’t think we’re in too bad shape in that position so we’ll just crack on.”

Fax are also likely to welcome back prop Jacob Fairbank, who was rested against Dewsbury, while centre Steve Tyrer, omitted against the Rams to accommodate Ed Barber, also looks likely to be in contention.

“Jacob damaged his ribs against Sheffield in round one, so he was never going to play two in a week,” said Grix.

“He should be right for the weekend though and he will probably just move straight in there in place of Olly Wilson, who obviously won’t be available to us.

“With Steve, that was my decision. We felt we had some bodies who needed to play and we wanted to have a look at them.

“Steve’s been okay, and he’s been a mainstay of that edge for a long time, so I can understand a raised eyebrow.

“I thought both centres did okay on Tuesday.”

Fax made the last four of the Challenge Cup in 2019, eventually slipping to defeat against St Helens in a surprisingly tight contest at Bolton.

“It would be nice to have a good run in the Cup again and we’ll be going there to put on a decent performance,” said Grix.

“It’s not nice to lose and Tuesday night was probably two points we feel we should have taken, but the lads will take a lot out of that game.

“I think they showed some real character. Defending their line with 11 men, that’s not easy.

“But you can only afford to lose so many through the season and that’s one of those gone now.

“Wehavetomoveontothe next one regardless, that’s the beauty of rugby league.

“We’ve already done our prep on Sheffield, so we’ll move straight on to that on Thursday.

“It will be a lighter session, but we’ll go over to Wakefield with our heads up.

“We shouldn’t be too down in the dumps; we were there with our effort levels and we will start getting the rub of the green at some point.

“We just need to tidy things up a little bit.”