Eagles play-offs bid rests on beating Whitehaven

Less than a week ago Eagles seemed out of the running after defeat at Dewsbury and only a bonus point from their game with Halifax.

They were handed the lifeline by Doncaster's 51-18 destruction of Dewsbury last Sunday.

"It's simple now and it's all back in our hands," said coach Mark Aston. "We had a great performance against Halifax but were disappointed to only get a bonus point. But Doncaster did us a favour."

The bonus point put Eagles level with Dewsbury but with a fingertip grip on sixth-place on points difference.

A win tonight will secure the play-off spot even if Dewsbury win at Leigh as they have a vastly poorer points difference.

Aston is unlikely to make many changes to the 17 although he may bring back experienced second row forward Craig Brown and hooker Paul Pickering.

He added: "If we play like we did against Halifax we are a certainly capable of beating Whitehaven.

"Whitehaven also have to win if they are to make sure of finishing the league season in third place, so it'll be tough.

"Having to pay 24 hours earlier because it's been made the Sky TV game has caused a few problems but whatever happens we're on TV and that's good for the club.

"The players will be fired up - we can end the season at Don Valley on a massive high - it's all to play for."