CRAIG Lingard says a successful Super Eights campaign for Cougars could hinge on their first two fixtures.

Keighley, who visit Doncaster on Sunday and welcome York City Knights a week later, are playing catch-up as they bid for a top-five play-off spot.

Currently five points behind both sides – who occupy fifth and fourth respectively – two wins for Lingard's men would put them right in the mix.

Conversely, two defeats would leave Cougars with a mountain to climb, especially given runaway leaders Toronto Wolfpack are their third opponents.

Head coach Lingard said: "The fixture list has fallen pretty well for us. Ideally I would have like to have played Toronto first but we play Doncaster and York in our first two games which are really important.

"York play Toronto in their first game and Doncaster play (third-placed) Barrow in their second game.

"If we beat Doncaster and York, quite conceivably they could both easily lose their other game as well, so if that happens we are a point behind both of them.

"They would be looking over their shoulder and we would be on the front foot and full of confidence.

"Our first two games could dictate how our Super Eights go. If we get get two victories we are on the front foot and looking forward, if we lose our first two games then that is pretty much our season done and dusted in terms of getting into the top five."

Sunday's opponents Doncaster have strengthened their squad with four new additions.

Hull FC outside-back Nick Rawsthorne and back-rower Brandon Westerman have joined on loan, while Warrington winger Ryan Jones and French full-back Hakim Miloudi have also signed.

Lingard said: "It will be difficult as they have strengthened but likewise it might take them a while to gel. "They will have had a couple of weeks training but training is different to getting out on the park.

"These different combinations might take them a couple of games to get into a rhythm so, with a bit of luck, it might take them our game to get through that."

Cougars were hoping to bring in Batley second row Brad Hill in on loan along with team-mate Trae O'Sullivan, who was signed until the end of the season last week after the prop made a promising debut on dual-registration terms against Oxford.

But they had to make do with just one addition as Lingard said: "After the deadline day (last Friday), if loanees play for a club they can’t then be recalled by their own club and play for them.

"Speaking to Matt Diskin at Batley, he couldn’t afford to lose two middle men just in case he had injuries or suspensions."