Donny clash is vital for Cougars

1:54pm Friday 1st August 2008

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Barry Eaton has told his Cougars charges: Your Grand Final hopes lie in your own hands.

They entertain Co-operative National League Two promotion rivals Doncaster on Sunday in a "vital" fixture for both clubs.

Fourth-placed Keighley are five points in front of Ellery Hanley’s side but their rivals have two games in hand.

Having missed the chance to chase down third - losing narrowly at Oldham last week - the Cougars’ current spot is now their main target.

Eaton said: "We’ve got three teams all battling it out for fourth - us, then York in fifth and Donny, who are sixth.

"It’s still mathematically possible for us to finish third but others have to slip up.

"Fourth is in our hands though and it will give us a massive advantage in the play-offs.

"Like Super League, third and fourth have a week off and only have to win one game to get to the Grand Final.

"Those below in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth have to win three matches, so it is a huge difference.

"Doncaster and York will be just as aware of all that but we’re going all out to keep hold of this spot and if we win tomorrow it puts us in pole position."

Doncaster were one of the pre-season title favourites but - despite reaching the Northern Rail Cup final - have failed to sustain pressure on leading pair Gateshead and Barrow.

That cup run has seem them fall behind in their fixture list and they were forced to play at Rochdale on Wednesday night suffering a humiliating 50-8 defeat.

Eaton went to Spotland to see Hanley’s side in action and admitted: "They were awful.

"Rochdale played really, really well but Doncaster were poor.

"We don’t expect them to play that badly again against us and they’ve got a couple of players coming back too."

Keighley - who lost 21-14 at Doncaster back in April - will be near full strength though with the boss admitting it has been his toughest selection decision yet.

He recorded no fresh injury problems from Oldham and hopes to have Australian prop Brendan Rawlins returning on Sunday after a back injury.

Dangerous centre Mick Fogerty is also available again after a two-match ban, while full back Gavin Duffy is pressing for a recall after his broken ankle.

Richard Knight’s season does look to be ended due to a need for shoulder surgery but fellow second-row Will Cartledge marked his first league appearance of the year with a solid display last Sunday following his own long lay-off, leaving Eaton spoilt for choice ahead of the crunch showdown.