IT'S fortunate that North Wales Crusaders are a rugby league team and not in the union sport!

Had the opposite been the case, they would just have a starting line-up available for a big challenge tomorrow, with no replacements.

The injury situation is not improving from the perspective of head coach Carl Forster, who is preparing for tomorrow's tough Challenge Cup encounter at Championship side Keighley Cougars.

"Obviously, the injury issue is ridiculous," said Forster.

"We have got 15 players available on Saturday.

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"Obviously we have lost the three Saints and Josh Lynch.

"Lewis Baxter picked up an injury at the weekend.

"We are just going to try and bring a few trialists in."

A major improvement is required compared to last weekend's 18-4 loss to Oldham, which Forster described as "really disappointing".

"I don't think we've played that bad all year," he told the club's website.

"I know obviously we've lost a couple now, but I just thought we took three, four steps backwards."

It will all be about attitude and effort for the Crusaders for tomorrow's cup game, stressed the coach.

"We spoke last night at training and I said what I thought about somebody's game," he added.

"I said this week is about attitude and effort.

"I appreciate we are up against it.

"We will look at that effort.

"When I watched the (Oldham) video back, we have seen six clear opportunities where it's down to us.

"It's more about our skill levels, putting it through the hands.

"That's the most disappointing thing.

"Some of it is just basic stuff.

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"It's those little things letting us down at the minute."

While Crusaders were losing out in their meeting with Oldham, Keighley were comfortably defeated the Bradford Bulls 34-6.

Alix Stevenson, Dane Chisholm, Joe Gibbons, Luke Gale, Charlie Graham and Robbie Storey were among the try scorers for the Cougars and Forster has described tomorrow as something of a "free hit".

"It solely comes down to us as players that wasn't good enough and there's a lot of soul searching in the changing room and we've got to go again," he said.

"We've got Keighley next... it's a free hit, isn't it? Touch wood we see an improvement, because it is needed."