Naylor keen to stay busy

OLDHAM RL coach Scott Naylor wants to arrange two friendly fixtures for his team as they head towards the Kingstone Press Championship One play-offs.

The Roughyeds wrap up their regular league season tonight at Rochdale. But a potentially month-long break will occur between matches if Oldham feature in the play-offs.

Oldham currently top the table, but North Wales Crusaders look highly likely to beat them to the tape thanks to two ganes in hand and only four points to make up.

“We’re looking at probably four weeks until we get involved in the second weekend of the play-offs,” said Naylor. “That’s far from ideal; in four weeks players will lose match fitness, contact, their speed of thought and the intensity they need. I’m already looking at games to play during that period.

“You simply can’t replicate the cut and thrust of matches on the training field, so I’ll have to address that.”

Though Oldham can still secure promotion as champions, Naylor believes the Crusaders will make the most of their games.

“I’ve felt for a long time that North Wales will do it, I certainly don’t see them slipping up significantly in their last three games.”

Should Oldham complete their season in second place they will enter the play-offs in the second week, at home to the winner of the eliminator between the third and sixth-placed finishers.