Final jostling for play-off positions

AS CRUNCH time approaches in National League Two, a number of sides could yet switch positions before the end of season play-offs get going.

Following on from a 38-20 win at Swinton, the Roughyeds now need to beat Workington at home this weekend to guarantee third spot at the least.

This would grant Steve Deakin's side a home draw in a qualifying semi-final against Keighley, Doncaster or, least likely, York, at Boundary Park three weeks later on Sunday, September 14.

Win that one, and a two-week break would follow before the Grand Final is played out at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington on Sunday, September 28.

In such a scenario, Oldham would have had to play just once in five weeks. That could be a major factor in the team's favour, given the injuries within the squad at present which would be given a chance to settle down.

There is also the belief that last year's faltering play-off final defeat to Featherstone was largely down to fatigue after a draining, congested run of six games inside a month prior to that all-or-nothing clash.

Even if the Roughyeds lose their home qualifying semi-final, there is still a chance of making the Warrington date via a home tie against the best-performing side from league places five to eight a week. That tie would be played out exactly a week before the final.

It is also still theoretically possible that Oldham could end up second and be automatically promoted to National league one.

For that to happen, a Roughyeds win over Workington would need to be accompanied by a Barrow defeat at both Swinton, this Saturday afternoon at Sedgley Park, and again at Doncaster a week today. Unlikely, but plausible.

At the same time, the South Yorkshire side could yet pip the Roughyeds for third, should Deakin's men slip up on Sunday.

Fourth is a more realistic target for Ellery Hanley's side, who still have a tough, televised away game at champions Gateshead tomorrow night and the aforementioned Barrow test to come.

Keighley will scrap all the way to hold on to fourth at the Dons' expense, while York can't afford to look ahead too far into the future just yet.

Unlikely it may be, but a Rochdale win by a 34-point margin at the Knights' home this Sunday will see the Hornets overtake their rivals and slip into sixth.

The only side within the play-offs knowing exactly where they stand is Dave Rotheram's Workington, who are certain to end up in eighth place overall.