Not for the first time, Whitehaven coach Carl Forster will be casting anxious looks towards the treatment room this week.

Dion Aiye and Lewis Brown were notable departures during the fiery local derby with Workington Town at Derwent Park.

But several other players picked up knocks and already operating with one of, if not the smallest squad in League One, Haven’s coach will have concerns ahead of the weekend game at home to London Skolars.

“I have given the players four days off while we try and recover as best we can. The fact that we had no options left to us towards the end of the game tells its own story," said the Haven coach.

“Kris Coward had dropped out ahead of Sunday’s game because of an abscess on his elbow so we were already light on bodies going into the game.

“Under the circumstances, the fact that we were able to snatch victory with all the injury problems we were having underlines what spirit we have in the squad."

At the moment, Whitehaven are not allowed to sign-on new players, because of their financial situation, but the club is hopeful of this changing.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “The Rugby Football League is waiting for our business plan to take us through to the end to the season, and also for one looking ahead to 2019.

“Although we can’t offer contracts to players at the moment, if we did face a situation where we did not have enough players to fill a matchday quota, then we would be able to sign players on matchday terms.”

Despite the well-documented financial issues and the small size of the squad, the 24-22 at Derwent Park hoisted Whitehaven back into the play-off mix.

They are in the final position – fifth – level on points with fourth-placed Town but have an inferior points differential to their west Cumbrian neighbours.

Haven now have two home games in succession, which under normal circumstances they would expect to win against London Skolars and Newcastle Thunder. But any form of lengthy injury list would seriously dent those prospects.