COUGARS are set for a do-or-die clash with Sheffield Eagles on Sunday -- with the game kicking off at 1pm.

The clubs arranged the early kick-off to avoid a clash with the Bradford City v Leeds United match which is being played at Valley Parade, also on Sunday afternoon.

"There are a lot of Bradford City and Leeds fans in the area, and we don't want them to have to miss the big football match because of their loyalty to the Cougars," said managing director Peter Rowe.

"It will also help the Sheffield fans, because they will have to travel through Bradford and we didn't want them getting tangled up in traffic heading for the soccer match."

The biggest clash will not be on the roads, but at Cougar Park with former Keighley players Dave Larder, Simon Wray and Chris Robinson leading an 'old boys' charge for the Eagles.

Robinson, who was due to retire from professional rugby when he left Keighley, is enjoying a new lease of life as the Eagles captain. Although the team has not enjoyed major success on the field they have a strong side.

"One day we are going to kick in and someone will feel the full force of our new team," he said.

The Sheffield team is based around a huge pack led by 6ft 4ins, 17-stone Aussie Jeff Whittenberg, who played Super League with Bradford Bulls. They have been tight defensively, but have also struggled to score.

Coach Karl Harrison has warned his side they have a lot of work to do to make up for last week's defeat

"We were well on top for 55 minutes, but when Ian Hughes was sent off Leigh exploited the gap. I think they are the only team in the division who could do that.

"But now the players know what they have to do this week. Martin Wood and Ian Hughes are former Sheffield players and they will be particularly fired up," he said.

Mick Slicker is out of action for several weeks after suffering ankle ligament damage in the Leigh game, but Alan Boothroyd, who suffered a rib injury, is due to play with the aid of a painkilling injection.

Harrison added: "The early kick-off won't affect the players at all -- we'll still be fired up for it, I can assure you of that.

"I still believe we will make the play-offs. We have now played all the teams in the top five and you have to remember we are a relatively young team. We will get better and better as the season progresses."

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