WITHOUT a win in their opening three Super League Qualifiers, Widnes Vikings are staring relegation in the face.

Their latest defeat ­— a 42-22 reverse at Toulouse ­— was their second at the hands of a Championship team.

Now, starting with Sunday’s home game against last year’s Champions Leeds, Vikings must string wins together if they are to have any chance of retaining their top-flight status.

With tough away games at Toronto and Hull KR also in remaining fixtures, Vikings have an uphill battle to even make the Million Pound Game.

Interim Head Coach Francis Cummins said: “We have got some young men and the majority are giving me everything they have got.

“If they do that and the worst case happens I know that is where we are meant to be.

“We are only one play away from finding some momentum, unfortunately for us this last little bit is we are up against some teams who can play a bit too.

“Players are totally surrounded by the situation we are in. We are not disregarding what we face and have got to confront that.

“We can only focus on the process of building and winning one game.”

The first of those games is against Leeds - a team that endured a bit of turmoil itself this term.

“Leeds have players who can do something from nothing.

“They don’t like playing here - and have their demons – they have had a poor year too.

“But if you give them a start off they will take it and off they will go.

“We have to believe we can win, we just have to have discipline towards what we are trying to do.”

Cummins gave an injury update - and it is a case of one big man in and another one out.

He said: “Charlie Gubb is looking fit and ready to go.

“The Toulouse game came a little bit too quickly for him. But he’s working hard already this week to be ready and in the side to take on Leeds.

“To add to this, it’s been great to welcome Jordan Johnstone back into the mix after his spell on the sidelines following a syndesmosis injury. He will come into my thinking for this weekend and adds competition for places in the starting side this week.

“To offset that positive news, Gil Dudson came out of the game against Toulouse with an ankle injury and is currently on crutches, and it’s looking quite serious. He’s been to see a specialist but it isn’t looking likely that we’ll see him again this year.”