Workington Town's Chris Thorman excited ahead of League 1 play-offs

Town are set to welcome Keighley Cougars to Derwent Park on Sunday (2pm ko) looking to kickstart a promotion push to rugby league's Championship.

After a gruelling season, Thorman is now preparing his players to face the final challenging stretch of the campaign.

He said: "I'm really excited for this week because it's been a tough couple of weeks.

"I don't think people realise just how tough it has been.

"You compare some of the squads that we have been up against in the last few weeks – relatively injury free, full strength – there are some good teams in this competition but we are absolutely the masters of our own destiny and we are really excited for that."

Thorman admitted the toll taken by Covid-19 on the season had been difficult to handle and is hopeful that next year should be more smooth sailing.

"My overriding emotion on a lot of the stuff this season has been frustration," he said. "I'll be really pleased next year when we are not having to deal with the Covid stuff as much.

"I'm big on control and what we can control and factors we can control and we don’t necessarily often talk about the opposition and the referees and Covid, but Covid is such a burden; it's when all our attention is on that.

"I'll make sure that for the next few weeks it's on performing and training and performing on Sundays."

The game is set to be a huge spectacle for supporters, with Keighley already filling three buses with bookings from travelling fans set to make the trip to Cumbria to cheer on the Cougars.

Town chairman Les Smallwood said the game would make history for the club and encouraged supporters to get down and back the team.

He said: “The support will bring a major atmosphere to Derwent Park because as far as I am concerned they are the best supporters in the world.

“It’s about the people we have lost over Covid and hopefully they will be watching down on us and the supporters will come down here as the 18th man and roar us home.”