Keighley COUGARS coach Gary Moorby knows there is everything to play for as he prepares his side for their penultimate National League Division Two fixture on Sunday.
The Cougars travel over the border to face a Swinton Lions side still harbouring their own hopes of reaching the end of season play-offs and the ultimate goal of a place in the Grand Final at Widnes on October 5.
And Moorby is under no illusions as to the task facing his men when they take to the field this weekend.
He said: It's just going to be very hard work, simple as that.
"But saying that, we are still confident that we will reach the play-offs and make it through to the Grand Final."
Keighley really need to take both points from the encounter at Swinton if they are to have a realistic hope of finishing in top spot and taking the easier passage through the convoluted route to the Grand Final.
And although Moorby will be without Adam Mitchell -- who suffered a season ending broken collar bone during last weekend's 22-10 reverse against Sheffield Eagles -- the Cougars line-up will contain Jason Ramshaw.
The retiring Ramshaw -- who played his last league match at Cougar Park against Sheffield -- could have been in danger of missing the trip to Swinton following his sending off for a punching offence against Barrow.
But the Rugby Football League this week deemed that the sending off during the game would be sufficient and ruled him eligible for Sunday's encounter.
And the Cougar Park side will be further boosted by the return of Simeon Hoyle who comes back into the side following the serving of his two game suspension.
Moorby hopes his side will have learned something from last Sunday's 22-10 home defeat against a Sheffield Eagles side who leapfrogged Keighley on points difference to keep up the chase on leaders Chorley Lynx.
He said: "It was definitely a game of two halves against Sheffield.
"The first half went very much to plan as we kept our composure, refused to get drawn into their niggling tactics and played football in their half.
"But in the second forty, we turned over too much cheap ball which allowed the big Eagles pack get on top of us.
"I cannot knock the lads for their effort but we were not smart enough.
"Losing Adam Mitchell affected our rhythm as he was having a top game."
And Moorby also felt his side did not get enough support from the match referee during the encounter.
He added: "We did not receive any help from the man in the middle.
"It appeared that every time we got into their red zone we were penalised, the penalty count was 7-4 against us in the second half."
However, Moorby was not too downbeat about the result and said his side could take plenty of positives from the game -- especially the performance in the first half.
He said: "We now have to roll up our sleeves and do it the hard way.
"Our final two games are away from home so it will be a real test for us.
"This weekend's visit to Swinton will be a real tough one as they will be desperate to get into the play offs as well.
"We too are looking to finish as high as we can so we need to be just as desperate."
But the Cougars coach did admit the loss of Mitchell would be a blow to his side.
" I am gutted for Adam who has been a model professional this season. He has been outstanding for us."
Meanwhile, Moorby was delighted to see eight young players sign professional forms during Sunday's game.
He said: "This is really significant for us. Most of the lads are from Keighley and it proves we are backing up our youth development programme."
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