Workington Town and Barrow complete the regular League One season on Sunday – against opposition of contrasting form and ability.
Town host Hunslet, revived since the appointment of Alan Kilshaw as coach, while Barrow entertain perennial strugglers West Wales who were crushed by Hunslet at the weekend.
Barrow lead Town on the percentage win formula and although coach Paul Crarey has his own injury issues they pale into insignificance compared to West Wales.
The Welsh side, hammered 82-6 by Hunslet, only had 14 fit players, and are likely to be struggling on numbers for the trip to south Cumbria.
Crarey said: “We have a number of players who have been carrying knocks and to be honest we would really struggle if we have to go through the play-offs.
“There’s no such thing as a gimme so we will be looking for one big effort from the squad to make sure we go up automatically.”
Neighbours Town have the tougher assignment at home to Hunslet, who were one of the pre-season favourites to be involved in the title race.
Kilshaw has come in as coach following the sacking of Gary Thornton in July and has transformed the team.
“We’re playing expansive rugby league and scored some entertaining tries against West Wales. We’re going to head into the business end of the campaign confident that we have the ability and quality to progress in the play-offs,” he says.
Town coach Chris Thorman will know his side’s fate by the time they kick-off against Hunslet as Barrow play their final game on Saturday.
“We will see what happens at Barrow and act accordingly. If we are heading for the play-offs I have to make sure I have as many fit bodies as possible for that.
“We’ve picked-up a few injuries over the last few weeks and lost some experienced players. The most important thing is we get our strongest team out for the play-offs,” said Thorman.
