An injury to Castleford Tigers' first choice full-back Jason Flowers has given Jamie Benn a chance to stake his claim.

Flowers has undergone surgery on a shoulder and will be racing against the clock to be fit for the opening round of Super League in March.

That means former York Wasp Benn, pictured right,who has just signed a part-time contract with the Tigers, will start at full-back in tomorrow's Avec Challenge against Hull FC.

Benn was expected to figure mainly in the Alliance side and be used as cover for the first team's back division, but the injury to Flowers has given him an early chance to force his way into the first 13 at his preferred position.

Batley scrum half Gary Barnett will miss their Northern Ford Premiership fixture against York a week on Sunday after being suspended for six matches. He was banned for a reckless high tackle which left Sheffield's Gavin Brown with a broken jaw.

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