COUGARS chairman Gary Fawcett insists the club "deserve to be promoted" as they bid to secure an immediate return to the Championship.

The Cougar Park outfit suffered a heartbreaking and controversial relegation last season after Batley and Doncaster were both reinstated the three points they were initially deducted for fielding ineligible dual registration.

Fawcett considered taking legal action against the RFL following the demotion, which he estimated has cost the club over £250,000 this year.

Yet Paul March's promotion-chasing squad, fuelled by a sense of injustice and a desire to honour the memory of team-mate Danny Jones following his death in May, are on course to go straight back up.

They lie second in League One behind leaders Oldham and are virtually guaranteed to face the Roughyeds in a promotion shoot-out at Whitebank Stadium on September 20.

Victory over Scott Naylor's men would secure an instant return to the Championship for Keighley, who end their regular season campaign at home to lowly Hemel Stags tomorrow.

The Cougars racked up their fifth straight win after winning 48-24 at the University of Gloucestershire All Golds – but Fawcett is already looking ahead to the Oldham showdown.

"We achieved an expected win on Sunday against Gloucester All Golds and our team did well and what was asked of them," he said.

"I was hoping for Swinton to defeat Oldham by a margin, so that it would put some pressure on the Roughyeds in the final league game this weekend, but that wasn't to be.

"Therefore, barring an almighty upset we will finish second in the league and will take on Oldham on September 20 in the promotion final.

"Both teams have beaten each other this season, quite easily at their respective home grounds, so it remains to be seen what happens on the day.

"When we went to Oldham last time, we weren't at our best having been ravaged by injuries and Marchy having to pull out of the starting 17 only ten minutes before kick-off due to injury.

"This time we will have almost a full-strength squad to pick from, so Oldham will have a much sterner test from us.

"The team that can keep their composure and stick to their systems will win on the day. We deserve to be promoted – but we still have to earn it."

Cougars are set to be boosted by the return of a number of players this weekend as they prepare for the Oldham clash.

Jesse Sherrife, Ash Lindsay, Adam Brook, Jode Sheriffe and Josh Lynam are in line to play against Hemel but player-coach March is set to remain sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Gavin Duffy, Daley Williams, Lewis Graham and Sean Kelly are all still missing through injury.