NORTH Midlands' assistant coach Duncan Hughes is hoping he will not have the additional burden of playing in the County Championship Bill Beamount Cup match against holders Lancashire at Moseley on Saturday (3pm).
Hughes retired from senior rugby at the end of last season after an illustrious career that included spells with Worcester and Stourbridge.
He now plays for Droitwich, his home-town club, but his focus was supposed to be assisting David Stout in coaching the North Midlands.
But late withdrawals meant Hughes was a replacement for last Saturday's 57-19 defeat by Yorkshire and he kicked a late conversion.
Hughes hopes to concentrate on coaching against Lancashire although Ryan Watkins is not available as he plays for Malvern in Sunday's North Midlands Cup final against Solihull at Stourbridge.
"I'm hoping that I won't have to play this week, but there is a good chance that I might have to go on the bench again," Hughes said. "At one stage it looked as though I might have to start but, thankfully, Greg McDonald, of Moseley, has come forward."
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