The crucial west Cumbrian derby in the Championship Shield programme will be played on Sunday, August 21 at the Zebra Claims Stadium.

Workington Town and Whitehaven go head-to-head for the fifth time this season, but it’s shaping-up to be the most important of them all.

So far Whitehaven have won three, including the pre-season Ike Southward Memorial game and the Big Bash at Blackpool, bit Town did win the latest – with a dramatic score two seconds from the end.

Town and their local rivals go into the last seven matches to decide their Championship futures locked together in the two relegation places at the foot of the table.

Their latest clash will be the third Championship Shield fixture for both, after the competition gets underway on August 7.

Although at home, Whitehaven have the toughest assignment as they host Bradford Bulls, still smarting from the fact they missed out on a top-four place for the Super League qualifiers.

Town, ironically go back to Oldham, where they won 32-20 on Sunday to move above Whitehaven in the table and earn the home game against their neighbours.

A week later, Whitehaven travel to Sheffield, where they won back in March, but ended the season with a home defeat against last Saturday.

Town, meanwhile, will entertain Dewsbury, who were recent visitors to the Zebra Claims Stadium, and lost to a late Matty Gee try and Jarrod Sammut conversion.

The Championship Shield fixtures move from Sunday to Bank Holiday Monday (August 29) when Whitehaven have Halifax back up to the Recreation Ground. The last time Fax were there they snatched a 12-12 draw with a conversion after the hooter.

Workington Town will spend their Bank Holiday Monday at Swinton the team, apart rom Whitehaven, with the poorest current form.

Both teams are away on September 4 with Whitehaven at Dewsbury and Town making the longer trek to Sheffield.

Workington have their final home game on September 11 when they host Bradford Bulls while Whitehaven travel to Oldham.

Both clubs will hope to have put themselves safe by the time they line-up on September 18 for the last games – Whitehaven at home to Swinton and Town at Halifax.

FULL SHIELD FIXTURES

August 7: Whitehaven v Bradford Bulls; Dewsbury Rams v Swinton Lions; Halifax v Sheffield Eagles; Oldham v Workington Town.

August 14: Bradford Bulls v Halifax; Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven; Swinton Lions v Oldham; Workington Town v Dewsbury Rams.

August 21: Bradford Bulls v Oldham; Halifax v Dewsbury Rams; Sheffield Eagles v Swinton Lions; Workington Town v Whitehaven.

August 29: Whitehaven v Halifax; Dewsbury Rams v Bradford Bulls; Oldham v Sheffield Eagles; Swinton Lions v Workington Town.

September 4: Bradford Bulls v Swinton Lions; Dewsbury Rams v Whitehaven; Halifax v Oldham; Sheffield Eagles v Workington Town.

September 11: Oldham v Whitehaven; Sheffield Eagles v Dewsbury Rams; Swinton Lions v Halifax; Workington Town v Bradford Bulls.

September 18: Whitehaven v Swinton Lion; Bradford Bulls v Sheffield Eagles; Dewsbury Rams v Oldham; Halifax v Workington Town.