Paul March is confident his resurgent Cougars side have finally kicked their losing habit and discovered a winning formula.

The Cougars will head to Swinton on Sunday on the back of successive wins over Doncaster and Hunslet, which have encouraged hopes they can end a turbulent campaign in the Championship play-offs.

The tense 28-20 win over Hunslet last weekend left Keighley just one place outside the top eight and with a game in hand.

March said: “We’ve won two games on the trot but good teams put a run together and that’s what I’m hoping we can do now.

“We’ve got Swinton this weekend and then Dewsbury at home next Sunday. Hopefully two good wins will hold us in good stead to achieve a play-off place.

“We’ve set out our goals and I think the competition for places, with players coming back, has really lifted the intensity of certain individuals.

“You need to keep on that roll and if we do that then winning becomes a habit.

“Losing is a habit too but we’ve broken that habit and we just need to keep the winning run going and play with a smile on our faces. When we do that, anything can happen.”

March’s squad is in decent health and the competition for places has increased following the return of Neil Cherryholme after a round-the-world trip. The former Bradford Academy front-rower made 23 appearances for the Cougars last season.

“It’ll be like a new signing for us and obviously at the business end of the season we want a full-strength squad to pick from,” said March.

“That means everyone has to be on their game and that can only be good for us.”

March, meanwhile, is keen to avenge Swinton’s victory at Cougar Park in April ahead of this weekend’s showdown at the Leigh Sports Village.

The player-coach, who has been in fine form of late, said: “I think we owe them one because we were under-par when we played them at home.

“I thought we let ourselves down – but you don’t know which Swinton you’re going to get. One week they can be very good; the next week they can be not so good.

“If we can get our own house in order and get a game-plan together, then I think we can ask a lot of questions of their defence.

“I’m sure we can come away from Leigh Sports Village with a victory – and a good one at that.”

Meanwhile, Cougars prop Scott Law was named the Premier Sports Championship player of the week following his formidable display against Hunslet.

Law produced two vital spells to help beat the Hawks and March said: “Scott had a massive impact when he came off the bench, getting over for a try with his first touch.

“His involvement throughout the whole game, especially in that heat, was outstanding.”