Cougars have been boosted ahead of their make-or-break clash with Whitehaven after four more players committed to the club.

Following the new deals signed by Andy Shickell, Jamaine Wray, Ryan Benjafield and James Feather last week, Scott Law, Olly Pursglove, Chris Baines and Greg Nicholson have also agreed extensions.

It means the pack is already looking in good shape for next season’s return to Championship One.

Coach Barry Eaton said: “I’m a little bit later than normal in getting players signed up but that’s been down to the uncertainty over budgets and what league we would be playing in next year.

“But we’re not playing catch-up because we’re still ahead of most teams at this stage and that will stand us in good stead.”

Keighley enter Sunday’s game against Whitehaven (3pm) knowing victory would lift them off the bottom of the Championship for the first time this season.

It would also go a long way to ensuring they do not finish the season at the foot of the table, with only one fixture remaining after the Cougar Park encounter.

Although Cougars are coming off the back of two straight defeats, Whitehaven have lost their last 12 and Eaton reckons his side will start as favourites.

He said: “Both teams will not want to finish bottom and we are desperate to make sure we climb above them. “It’s not a massive game for the normal reasons since both of us are already relegated but it means a lot.

“For a large chunk of the season we had genuine hope we could overcome our points deficit and climb out of the relegation places. “All teams set targets for themselves so when that one slipped by the wayside we set a new goal.

“We will probably go into it as slight favourites because Whitehaven’s recent run of form is not comparable to ours, despite the two disappointing defeats. We have had some really good performances, especially at home, and we want to finish strongly in our remaining two fixtures at Cougar Park.”

Eaton admits it is also important to set a marker for next season, when Cougars will be aiming for promotion from Championship One. He said: “We need to set our intentions out and put a marker down. “We also need to show we are professional and that we have not accepted the season is already over. “We owe that to ourselves and to the fans.”

  • Cougars season tickets for next season went on sale today, with a £20 discount available until the end of December. Ground adult tickets (standing) are currently priced £120, with concessions costing £50. Ground admission prices have been lowered to £11 adults, £6 concessions.