Cougars in right frame of mind

4:24pm Friday 5th September 2008

Confident Barry Eaton firmly believes he has got the reaction required from his Cougars players ready for their play-off assault.

Keighley tackle Workington on Sunday for the FIFTH time this season but never has there been more importance on one contest.

It is a National League Two elimination play-off – lose and their season is over.

Eaton’s side have won all four fixtures against the Cumbrians so far and finished a massive 20 points above opponents who sneaked in to the top eight, so they should comfortably progress into next week’s round.

The Cougars boss has been concerned by his side’s recent form but was reassured by their attitude this week.

Eaton said: “We’ve trained really well, with the intensity going up three or four notches. I get the impression the lads are ready for this.

“It’s been difficult for the players to raise themselves recently, knowing it looked like we’d finish fifth, but now we’re into knock-out football and I can sense that.

“We’ve got players who have been in this type of situation before – like Neil Lowe and Jon Presley – and others who haven’t but they’re giving off some real excitement too. We’ve got the experience as well, so there’s a good mix.”

Skipper James Feather has handed Cougars a big boost by passing a fitness test after suffering a knee injury at London Skolars last Friday and Eaton hopes fellow hooker Jermaine Wray (dead leg) will follow suit.

They have been dealt a blow though, with in-form second-rower Greg Nicholson out after injuring his shoulder in training.

But prop Simon Bissell, dropped for the trip to the capital, will step back in, while stand-off Danny Jones may also return.

“We’ve played Workington four times this year and there was never more than a score between us,” said Eaton.

“Realistically though, two out of those four we had in the bag and we maybe took our foot off the pedal. We can’t do that this weekend.

“The closest was probably the last one we had down here last month and that could have gone either way, so Workington will take plenty from that.”

Town have lost their last three league games but coach Dave Rotherham warned: “Form means nothing now.

“You like to be playing well at this stage of the season but it’s knock-out stuff and anything can happen.

“They’ve beaten us a few times this year but that means nothing. You can throw the form book out of the window.”