Workington boss Phil Veivers expects beleagured Whitehaven to come out fighting in Sunday's crunch relegation battle.

The two sides will lock horns just days after bottom-of-the-table Haven sacked coach James Coyle.

But Veivers says he expects the Haven players to lift their game when they head to the Zebra Claims Stadium, ko 3pm.

"At the end of the day it could go either way, they could capitulate or put their hands up and show what the team is made of for the outgoing coach," said Veivers.

"I expect they will aim up and have a shot when they take us on."

And Veivers does not expect any major changes in the way the Whitehaven side will line-up to play.

"I think they have to carry on with what they have been doing all year," he added.

"I don't expect any major changes in the way they play. We just need to go out there and play at a really good tempo."

A derby between the two fierce rivals has never had more at stake, with both side currently occupying the two Championship relegation berths.

A win for Town, combined with a loss at Sheffield for Swinton, would narrowly lift them out of danger, on points difference.

"This game is as vital as the last one," said Veivers. "Dewsbury was vital and so was Oldham where we came up short.

"If we can win this one and Sheffield win then we will be out of the bottom two and that's how important this is."

Veivers is not planning on making any major changes to the team that beat Dewsbury last Sunday.

But he will be without forward Brett Phillips who pulled up with a hamstring injury.

However, Karl Olstrom will come back into the side after missing the last two games through suspension.