THE league season ended on a high note with a very professional team performance.

The lads scored some of the finest tries you will see anywhere in rugby league, and it was all the more impressive that they should come in a game when the pressure was on to ensure a home fixture in the first round of the play-offs.

THANKFULLY there were no injuries last week so I am able to choose from an almost fully fit squad for Sunday's game against Doncaster.

All the lads are raring to go and there is a fantastic spirit in the camp. The down side is that I have had to upset some players by telling them they are not in the squad of 21 that I have selected to challenge for the play-off title.

INTENSITY and commitment coupled with desire are qualities that you expect from champions and I am expecting the level of these elements to rise by at least three notches on Sunday -- from both teams.

We have suffered two frustrating defeats by the Dragons this season, but they are behind us. Sunday is a brand new start and the players are all aware of what they have to do to reach the final.

I know from personal experience that cup football is an entirely different proposition from league action.

IN MY opinion the play-off system is a good one, particularly as we don't play every team twice during the season.

We have not had an easy route to second place, having played Widnes, Oldham and Featherstone away - all top eight teams - without a corresponding home fixture.

However, all the teams in the top eight are there on merit and all are capable of reaching the final. that is the beauty of cup football.

OUR TRAINING programme has changed this week. Cup games are all about what happens on the day and we need to prepare ourselves physically and mentally for the intensity of the knock-out situation. The lads are responding well and some Sunday they will be fully focused on the job in hand.

FINALLY I would like to thank John Fay of CBF Screenprints for his contribution to youth development and to Andrew Lottey of Oakworth Computing for helping us to sign Stephen Field - both vital for the future of the club.