CRAIG Lingard is excited about a selection headache as he prepares to welcome players back into a Cougars squad now unbeaten in five.

Keighley held Toronto Wolfpack to a draw last Sunday, despite fielding a threadbare squad due to injuries and suspensions.

And with Josh Tonks back after a five-match suspension for Sunday's trip to third-placed Whitehaven, and Brad Nicholson likely to be available too, Lingard is confident his side can keep up their charge for the top five.

"The dilemma that we've got now is that when people start coming back to fitness, we're undefeated in five," he said. "Those guys have got to force their way into the team.

"Tonks is a real important player. His aggression, the way that he carries the ball, his enthusiasm – he's just a player that you want in the team.

"He'll strengthen us and hopefully Nicholson will be available as well. Then we might have some headaches about who to select rather than who can we select because we haven't got enough bodies."

Whitehaven's play-off place is already secure despite a 30-22 defeat at fifth-placed Doncaster last week.

They will have player-coach Carl Forster available again after he sat out that loss due to suspension.

Lingard knows another trip up to Cumbria won't be easy but he hopes Cougars can maintain momentum and gain revenge for a 28-22 reversal earlier in the campaign.

He said: "At this stage in the season, if you play well one week and bad the week after, it's difficult to try and get some sort of consistency back. We've got that consistency at the moment and we'll look to take advantage of that.

"I think it'll be difficult up there, as it always is, and they'll be wanting to get back to winning ways.

"But there will be no better opportunity for us to go up and get a victory, so we'll have to grasp it with both hands."

Sunday's results mean the gap between sixth-placed Cougars and Doncaster is now two points with four games to go.

But with the Dons still having a trip to Toronto on their calendar, Keighley are still breathing down their necks and Lingard doesn't want them to ease up.

The coach added: "It's disappointing I suppose that Whitehaven got beaten by Doncaster because we would've been in the top five after that but, it is what it is. We didn't get that favour.

"All we can do is keep winning games or keep chalking these draws off and not getting beat.

"That's where we are at the minute. We're unbeaten in three in these play-offs and we'll take that into this week."