Halifax certain to lose cup place

Swinton, knocked out of the Challenge Cup three weeks ago, are standing by for a unique second chance in the competition.

The Lions were beaten 54-6 by Halifax in the fourth round, but it now transpires the Yorkshire club fielded an ineligible player, because Michael Ostick had already played in the cup this season for Rochdale.

Halifax's fifth-round tie against Batley on Sunday was called off at short notice while the Rugby Football League investigated.

The findings will be announced today, but Halifax look certain to be expelled, leaving Swinton and Batley to contest a place in the quarter-finals, which will give one of them a home game against the Catalan Dragons.

"We're ready to play as and when required, although we would prefer it to be this coming weekend," the Swinton chairman, John Kidd, said. "The first thing I knew about it was on Sunday morning. It never crossed my mind that they'd played an ineligible player."