Ford in a battle for play-off fitness

SCOTT Naylor's play-off preparations for Oldham RL start tonight, with the first training session since the club's official season ended last Thursday.

The Roughyeds boss has stressed to his squad it is unlikely North Wales Crusaders will slip up in their push for the title.

Said Naylor: "I'm a realist, so we've got to get on with it."

Naylor's men came through the bruising derby relatively unscathed and expect to be fully fit for the first play-off on September 15. There is even an outside chance that Jon Ford, who dislocated an elbow at London Skolars on August 4, might be back.

Naylor added: "We have a four-week gap and haven't got anything that will keep anyone out of a play-off game. It's just a case of match fitness and keeping the intensity going."