WORKINGTON Town coach Ged Stokes is demanding 100 per cent commitment from his players as the season proper kicks off against Haven on Sunday.
Stokes says they must play their very best if they are to defeat their NL1 neighbours in this opening game of the Northern Rail Cup group matches.
Sunday’s game at Derwent Park (3pm ko) is being sponsored by the Times Star.

The Derwent Park boss told Times Star Sport that everyone will have to give total effort throughout the season for the club is achieve anything.
He said: “Everyone has to give 100 per cent personal commitment and then to connect that into overall team performance.
“We need 100 per cent passion, attitude and intensity for 80 minutes of every game.

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Though bolstered by a much better display against Widnes Vikings last Sunday, Stokes is still mindful of the poor showing at Dewsbury.
He said: “We’ve had three pre-season friendlies and no win. In two games we achieved what was required but in the other we didn’t.

“To beat Whitehaven is a big ask. They’re pretty much on a level with Widnes and to win we will have to play our very best.”
Stokes will be without Ryan Campbell, Mark Cox and Jon Roper for Sunday while it’s hoped Andrew Beattie will have recovered sufficiently from a bad cold to take some part in the game.

Campbell was stretchered off after badly fracturing his left ankle just 11 minutes in to the game at Widnes. (Match report page 51)
He has had surgery to insert two plates and pins into the ankle. They will be removed in six weeks when the ankle will be re-plastered for another six weeks, after which there will be a period of rehabilitation.

But Stokes is hopeful Campbell could be back in action for the latter part of the season. Stokes said: “He’s a resilient chap. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back before the end of the season.

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Cox is scheduled to have surgery - a “clean out” was Stokes’ description - on a long-running knee problem today.
On Town, Rotheram said: “They are well organised and a big, physical pack of forwards and have good players in the key positions of six, seven and nine.
In other Town news this week Neil Frazer has been named as captain for the 2007 season.

Frazer, 31, has shown solid form over the last few seasons and led by example at Widnes.
The 6ft 3in, 15 stone three-quarter has made 25 appearances in each of the last two seasons, scoring 23 tries in total.
He said: “I'm chuffed to bits.

There were a few players in the reckoning and it's a huge honour."
Stokes said: “I discussed the pros and cons with each player and the players together and Shaun came back to me and said Gus was the right man for the job. Gus did a good job last year.

"It was a courageous decision by Shaun as he desperately wants the job and he will definitely be a future club captain.