IN a dog-eat-dog finish to the regulation Championship season, this weekend’s bottom-four clash could be crucial.

Whitehaven, foiled in the dying seconds of a Cumbrian derby on Sunday, host a Sheffield side who lost to a late Leigh try in their last outing.

Their clash on Saturday night (6.30pm ko) is followed less than 24 hours later by rejuvenated Workington travelling to Oldham, who have lost only once in their last our games.

It’s the final round of fixtures before the bottom eight break off for their last seven games. There’s less margin for error from the two Cumbrian clubs who are five and three points respectively from a safe table position.

Whitehaven can take some heart from the fact that they are exactly the kind of team that the Eagles have struggled against this season.

Even though director of rugby Mark Aston says he is now starting to see the best form from a number of his players, there’s still a warning ahead of the trip north to the Recreation Ground.

“In the last two weeks, against London and now Leigh, we have shown we are good enough.

“It shows what we are capable of but we seem to knock off at certain times and it does cost us.

“There were massive positives to take out of the game against Leigh but we still have areas to work on.

“The newly-found momentum must be harnessed for another game against struggling Whitehaven – the type of side that we have come unstuck against throughout this season’s Kingstone Press Championship.

“It takes time to get the group together. They are clicking and it is a little later than I would have liked.

“We have beaten London, we have beaten Bradford, Halifax and Featherstone and come close twice to have beaten Leigh.

“But you’ve got to be consistent in the other games.”