Naylor plays down Cougars’ injury worries

SCOTT Naylor has dismissed the significance of reports that injuries will affect Keighley in Sunday's giants clash at Whitebank.

Playmakers Paul Handforth (33) and Paul March (36), played huge roles in the Yorkshire side's 32-24 defeat of Oldham at Cougar Park. The former Castleford and Wakefield star is out with a torn calf muscle, while there are reports that Jode Sheriffe, Sean Kelly and Ash Lindsay, who all played in the last game with Roughyeds, are also on the casualty list.

Of the 17 who stormed into a 26-0 half-time lead in the Cougar Park clash – one of Oldham's poorest performances of the season – only eight played last week.

Said Naylor: "Injuries or not, that's something we don't need to concern ourselves about. In any case, whatever happens, they will have a lot of quality and a lot of experience all over the field - that counts for a lot in a big game like this."

Both coaches have played up the importance of the clash for promotion prospects. Said Naylor: "A win would put us in a very strong position, but we are aware that a couple of losses could send us tumbling to fifth or sixth. It's as tight as that."

Said the Cougars boss: "In our division, they don't come any bigger than this upcoming game at Whitebank. I'm sure the winners will go on to finish top of the table."

The team finishing top is at home to the second-placed team for the right to win promotion to the Championship.