Barry Eaton has called on his Cougars to continue bamboozling the critics by taking another step towards Championship survival.

The Keighley chief is already proud of his players’ efforts in overcoming a nine-point deduction to provide hope of avoiding the drop but knows the job is only half done.

Sunday's clash at home to Dewsbury is possibly the most significant moment of the season so far.

Win and Cougars could climb off the foot of the table and level with their West Yorkshire rivals but lose and they could fall six points adrift.

“Sunday is a very important game, there’s no getting away from that,” said Eaton.

“We could go level on points with them and then form between now and the end of the season would be the major factor in staying up.

“Most people involved in the game probably would’ve expected us to already be relegated by now but we’re not down and out and we’re in there fighting. We’ve already proved the doubters wrong but we’ve got to keep on doing it.”

Cougars approach the business end of the season in a position of relative strength, knowing both Dewsbury and third-from-bottom Whitehaven have to visit Cougar Park.

There is also a home semi-final in the Northern Rail Cup to look forward to but, despite the positive signs, feet are staying firmly on the ground.

Eaton said: “We’ve always been humble. If we beat Dewsbury and Whitehaven we would put ourselves within touching distance of survival but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.

“Both of them will provide a massive challenge. Dewsbury have played the top five teams in their last five games and have come away with three bonus points so that shows they’re not far away.

“We’re certainly going to be giving them the respect they deserve.”

Eaton is faced by a welcome selection dilemma, with the likes of Olly Pursglove and Greg Nicholson on the mend following injuries.

Eaton said: “We’ve made the odd change recently but everyone who has come in has done well.

“James Haythornthwaite came in last Sunday and had a really good game, while we’ve also got the likes of George Rayner and Richard Jones ready to come in.

“Olly Pursglove pulled out of the York game but that was more a precautionary measure ahead of this week.

“Will Cartledge will be back training after a knee knock and Greg Nicholson has a chance on Sunday following a rib injury.”

Dan Belcher (hamstring) got a chance to test his recovery by playing in the Cougars’ reserve side on Thursday night.

Rams coach Warren Jowitt has no new injury concerns after last week’s defeat at Halifax.

Jowitt said: “Our first half was our best 40 minutes of the season but we gifted Halifax the game.

“We looked like park footballers in the second half and that’s not what we’re about.

“Keighley are a good side. They’re no mugs. They’re playing well this year and the pressure is on. We’ve got to win. It’s as simple as that.”