Paul March has threatened to ring the changes as Cougars bid to reignite their campaign at high- flying Leigh on Sunday.

Keighley were bundled out of the Northern Rail Cup by Batley last weekend and now have only league matters to focus on.

With 14 matches remaining, second-from-bottom Cougars have more than half the season to move away from danger.

Yet March admits he is losing patience with some of his men after they capitulated in the second half against the Bulldogs.

The player-coach said: “Some players just aren’t learning quickly enough – it needs to be said.

“They know what I want from them and if they’re not doing it then we’ll bring someone in who is doing it.”

March will assess the fitness of a number of players who picked up injuries during the Batley defeat but the partnership agreement with Castleford Tigers appears to have stalled, temporarily at least.

Daryl Powell was recently appointed as Ian Millward’s successor and is currently assessing his squad, reducing any opportunities Cougars may have had to field Castleford players on dual registration.

March added: “Daryl has gone into Castleford and there has been no contact as yet.

“I think he wants to look at the players he’s got available before he makes any decisions about his squad.

“We’re still on the look-out for players because we’re losing players left, right and centre through injury at the moment.

“We’ve not had the same 17 out there for more than two games in a row because it’s had to be changed every week.

“We were in control at half-time against Batley and the lads should take confidence from that.

“But why did we go away from that? I know I’m the coach and I’m out there but I can’t put my finger on it.

“I don’t know if it’s tired minds going back to old habits but we certainly let ourselves down.”

March denied that combining his coaching duties with his playing commitments was too much of a burden to cope with.

He said: “It’s difficult but it’s been tough all my career when I’ve been a player-coach.

“I’ve come through the other side at previous clubs and we’ve got a good group of players here.

“We’ve just got to have that self-belief and that desire to defend for each other.”

Ben Sagar, Joe Chandler and James Haley all picked up knocks against John Kear’s side on Sunday and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Leigh.

The Centurions are fifth in the Championship after winning ten of their 13 league outings so far.

March added: “Going there and getting a result would be a great way to bounce back but at the moment we’re just waiting to see who’s available.

“Matt Bailey could be back this week and that will be like having a new signing.

“There are four points between us and sixth, so we’re not panicking about our league position.

“We can’t panic because if we do then we’ll start doing stupid stuff.”