Four of Whitehaven’s remaining six games are against teams currently out of the play-off reckoning. Two of those are at the Recreation Ground, but it’s probably the two away trips to Doncaster and Hunslet which hold the key to Haven’s title hopes.

Doncaster, who host Whitehaven at Featherstone, on Sunday, and Hunslet who have a game in hand of the four teams above them, will consider themselves as still being in the race for the championship.

Both are on 16 points, five behind Haven, with Doncaster coach Richard Horne particularly upbeat about his team’s prospects.

Horne says: “We’ve got some boys that are really starting to find their form for us at just the right time. The challenge is there for them, as well as the rest of the squad to maintain that form and kick on as the league is our only focus.

“It is so tight from top down to around seventh because it’s a very close competition. I’m sure there will be a lot of twists and turns between now and the end of the season. It’s certainly all to play for.

“We need to focus on what we’re doing and doing it well, so hopefully the results can follow off the back of that.”

Doncaster are having to switch to Post Office Road, Featherstone because their own Keepmoat Stadium is not available this weekend.

Haven coach Gary Charlton said: “That might take away some of the home advantage with the pitch being new to both of us.

“But it’s really about how we perform on the day and if we can continue from where we left off on Sunday against Oldham that will be fine.

“We won’t learn much from the video of their last game when they beat West Wales 72-0 but we will have a good luck at some of their previous matches.

“They have been up and down this season but we just have to go there and concentrate on ourselves.

“If we play to the best of our ability and cut out the errors we won’t be far away.”

Doncaster have won eight and lost six of their 14 games so far.