Cougars chief Jason Demetriou is more than happy for Swinton to steal the spotlight.

The big-spending Lions have become the most talked-about club in Championship One after an unbeaten start to the league campaign.

A shock win against Dewsbury in the Challenge Cup only raised their profile further but Demetriou has no problem with them deflecting attention from his own side.

Keighley have quietly gone about their business, racking up four consecutive league wins since losing at Whitehaven in late March.

But Sunday’s trip to Doncaster kicks off a crucial sequence of games that includes the Cougar Park rematch with Whitehaven and a clash with free-scoring Rochdale.

“It’s a massive spell for us,” said Demetriou. “The next three games are big and if we can get three wins that will set us up really well.

“The three games after are important as well because we face Skolars, South Wales and Gateshead. Without being disrespectful, those games offer a good chance to pick up the points.

“So if we could win our next six games, it would give us a lot of momentum going into our first meeting with Swinton.

“They are looking good and scoring a lot of points and are a dangerous team but so are we.

“I’m more than looking forward to this period because the league’s really hotting up now and it could come down to our two games with Swinton.

“I’m quite happy to let them grab the headlines. They’re signing every Tom, Dick and Harry and you have to wonder how they’re fitting it all into their budget but good luck to them.”

Demetriou’s side head into the pivotal period on the back of an 80-0 defeat at Warrington in the Challenge Cup.

Such a heavy loss could easily have taken the wind out of Cougars’ sails but a few kind words from Wolves coach Tony Smith provided the perfect pick-me-up.

“The whole build-up was positive and so was the experience in terms of playing in front of a big crowd,” said Demetriou.

“I never made a big deal about the game or going there to pull off an upset. We went there aiming to put in a performance to be proud of.

“It was a great effort from the boys and Tony Smith came into our dressing room after to offer encouragement. He spoke very highly of us and the systems we’ve put in place and he’s not the kind of guy to do that if he doesn’t mean it.

“There were a lot of areas where we were close to exposing them and a lot of areas where we defended really well.”

Cougars' efforts at Warrington were hampered by the absence of a host of key players.

All three first-team full backs were missing, forcing Gavin Duffy to play at No 1 while Ben Sagar started on the wing.

Rangy forward Richard Jones, playmaker Luke Helliwell and prop Brendon Rawlins were also missing but all three are expected to be fit for the trip to Doncaster.

It is also hoped James Haythornthwaite will make his comeback from injury.