Jason Demetriou has billed tonight’s Northern Rail Cup quarter-final home clash with Featherstone as ‘do or die’ as Cougars bid to bounce back from Sunday’s home defeat to Halifax.

The Keighley player-coach could not hide his frustration after Karl Harrison’s men claimed a 30-16 victory at Cougar Park in the Co-operative Championship.

But now attention turns to the visit of Featherstone as Demetriou’s men aim to move a step closer towards the Northern Rail Cup final in Blackpool.

Demetriou is demanding a major improvement in performance against a Rovers side who dumped Castleford out of the Challenge Cup earlier this season.

Tonight’s game is also set to be screened live on Premier Sports and the Cougars player-coach said: “Tonight is a do or die game and exactly what we need to bounce back from a disappointing display at the weekend.

“The performance against Halifax lacked the composure and aggression needed to beat the top clubs.

“It’s a Northern Rail Cup quarter-final against the best Championship team over the last three years, so it certainly needs no building up and motivation should come very easily for us.

“We need to believe in ourselves and the processes it takes to win these games as it is well within our capabilities to do so.”

Demetriou felt a lack of action in recent weeks had not helped his side, adding: “We’ve only had three games in six weeks, which does make it hard for us to keep up to speed.

“No disrespect but we haven’t played the top teams in that period either, and against these sort of teams you need to be firing.”

Cougars have also been hit by injuries and Demetriou had weighed up the prospect of bringing in reinforcements to bolster his squad.

However, he has now decided against doing so, explaining: “We still have major players out of the squad, including Ben Sagar, Jamaine Wray and Semi Tadulala but all three are due to return over the next month, which is why I am holding off on adding to the squad.

“Also Gavin Duffy has returned to the squad after a short break which I am really happy about.

“The supporters will make a huge difference tonight and it would be great if they get right behind the lads from the start and create that extra man that has helped us so many times.

“This is a huge challenge and, to be honest, all I am concerned about is our performance as we need to improve to be in with a chance of winning and moving to the semi-finals and closer to a big final occasion in Blackpool.”

Meanwhile, Cougars duo Danny Jones and Craig Moss have been included in the Wales squad to face France at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday.