The home club had a new field laid for this season and have had problems with the surface, so much so that they have already played two of their home games on the ground of their opponents.

This suggests that even if the snow melts away quickly, the game will again be in doubt. Maroons' coach Peter Seabourne said: "There is a foot of snow on the pitch at Scatcherd Lane and I can't see Rossendale being much better. The lads are climbing the walls wanting a game and we are preparing fully and assuming it will go ahead."

Morley have already re-arranged their two postponed league matches. They will try for the third time to visit Penrith on Saturday February 6 and the home game against Rochdale has been arranged for Saturday February 27 as the gaps in the original fixture list are being rapidly filled.

It now seems a wise precaution that, with an increase in the number of teams in the division to 14, the RFU scrapped the national cup competition for clubs at this level in order to have some blank weekends.

The Yorkshire Cup tie at Pontefract looks set to be played in midweek in the spring, which will not really suit either club, particularly Morley if they are continuing their strong promotion push, and the depth of the squad looks likely to be tested.

If Saturday's game becomes another postponement, the next available date is Easter Saturday, April 3. That could cause problems as some players, seeing a blank date in the league programme, may well have arranged to go away.

Seabourne was philosophical about things when he remarked: "We are all in the same boat, in fact some clubs have not even been able to train, at least we have got round that problem."

Training was cancelled last Tuesday when Morley was virtually cut off by the snow. With the pitches unusable the players have worked out in the gym and have also cleared the function room at Scatcherd Lane to train there.

Another site being used is the Middleton Leisure Centre and the players are also training on their own to further increase their fitness levels.

Seabourne said: "I had a good chat with the lads last Saturday and we stressed the need for them to do more training and look after themselves but we are also anxious to keep all the lads together.

"Once the season resumes we look like facing a clutch of important matches and it is essential we are in the right physical and mental shape to cope with a series of challenging fixtures."

The only change regarding personnel is the return of Will Nutbeen from holiday and this adds to the strength of the squad.

When play does eventually resume, Seabourne looks likely to have to make some interesting selection decisions as players compete for places.