Keighley Cougars v Hunslet: Thornton targets six wins to keep promotion dream alive

Three successive defeats have dropped Hunslet to seventh in the table, two points and two places outside the play-offs.

The league leaders will gain automatic promotion with the next four sides going into semi-finals and then a decider to join them in the Betfred Championship next year.

Hunslet – who visit the team immediately below them, Keighley Cougars, tomorrow (3pm) – have some catching up to do and Thornton predicted: “We’ve got eight games left and we’ve probably got to win six of them to have a chance of getting in the top-five.

“If we can get a win this weekend and other results go our way we could be back in the five, but the important thing is to stop this losing run.

“Also, we lost to Keighley at home and we have got to reserse that so there’s double motivation – to stop the losing run and get one back.”

Hooker will be a problem position or the Parksiders tomorrow.

Thornton confirmed Ryan Wright is facing a month out of action with a badly dislocated finger, Jack Lee has suffered a recurrence of a biceps problem and Liam Mackay, who could step in, is a doubt due to a hamstring injury.