By Martin Morgan

Last updated 21:27, Wednesday, 19 March 2008

WHITEHAVEN will face the club’s record try-scorer Mick Nanyn in the Northern Rail Cup’s first knock-out stage after the club was paired yesterday with NL2 title-chasing Oldham in the last-16.

Mick Nanyn

The prolific centre, who notched two tries in the Roughyeds’ hammering of Swinton yesterday, had a superb scoring record for Widnes against Haven over the last years.

And he featured for the Vikings in their NR cup final win over Haven at Blackpool last season.

Paul Crarey’s men warmed up for Friday’s league launch with a morale-boosting 38-16 home win over previously unbeaten Halifax in their last NR Cup group game yesterday.

“Mick will be looking forward to this game on his own pitch,” said Haven director Barry Richardson.

“He was a great player for Whitehaven, particularly with the ball close to the line. I’m sure Paul will have ideas on how to combat him.

“Things are looking good for Oldham. They’ve had quite a significant financial investment and will start NL2 as probable favourites.”

Nanyn is Haven record-holder for points-in-a-season and in a match.

Oldham hold a home win over Salford, red-hot fancies for the League One title this term. But Crarey is undaunted.

“You’ve got to beat some of the top sides to get through,” he said. “With the players they had, and the ones they’ve brought in, like Mick Nanyn, I fancy them to win the Second Division championship.

“A home draw would have been nice for our fans and the club, and we’ll have to do it tough. Steve Deakin’s a very shrewd coach, and we’ll have to be at our best to beat them down there.”

The match will be played on April 6.