Relegated Dewsbury Rams will be out to give their supporters a result to cheer when they close their home Co-op National One campaign against Featherstone Rovers tomorrow.
Coach Warren Jowitt has labelled it a "winnable fixture" and he said: "We've got to go out and win, as simple as that – we have got to give the fans something to cheer.
"We had a really good win against Whitehaven two weeks ago, then we went to Sa
lford and turned in a really disappointing first-half performance.
"In the second half we decided to play a bit and we matched them. It is just a case of confidence, that's low at the moment, but we have got to finish strong."
Rams have nothing left to play for as far as the table is concerned, but Jowitt has warned his players they can't afford to run up the white flag.
"They are all playing for their places and positions at the club," he said. "If they want to be at the club next year, they need to pull out a performance."
Rovers are on a three-game losing run and coaching advisor Jon Sharp believes they need to learn how to hold on to a lead.
"Against Widnes last week we had them on the back foot, but we conspired to beat ourselves," he said. "That's been the case over the last three games. We've been in front, but we've panicked a bit and lacked a bit of composure and we've let teams back into the game. We have got to learn how to control games when we're in front."
Sharp – at the club for less than three months – does believe Rovers are making progress.
"It has been a long journey in such a short space of time," he said. "It has been a big learning curve for the players and they have responded really well, they've picked up a lot of things.
"We have been competitive in every game we've played."
Ryan Glynn (ankle ligaments) is a definite absentee for Rams and Bryn Powell (hip) faces a fitness test, but Ryan Smith could return from a fractured cheekbone and Simon Cook is in contention after tests proved his injured hand is not broken, as initially feared.
Waine Pryce (groin) is Rovers' main concern after being hurt at Widnes.
Andy Kain will return after recovering from flu, but knee injury victims Tommy Haughey and Joe McLocklan remain sidelined.
Dewsbury Rams (from): Colleran, Powell, Epati, Hall, Buchanan, Smith, Tillotson, Finn, Trinder, Maloney, Greenwood, Glassie, Bostock, J Walker, Crawley, Robinson, Cook, Wilson.
Featherstone (from): Wildbore, Pryce, Dooler, Saxton, Kirk, P Handforth, Thackeray, Dale, Lee, Dickens, Field, Hirst, Blakeway, M Handforth, Houston, Hesketh, Tonks, Kain.
Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury).
Kick-off: Tomorrow, 3pm.
The full article contains 467 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.