WIDNES Vikings coach Denis Betts is delighted his side have played themselves into a position where Super League survival is all but assured.

For the second game running, the Vikings racked up a win by over 40 points at the weekend to leave them in second place in The Qualifiers table with a very healthy points difference.

With remaining games at home to Salford, on Sunday, and Leigh the week after, it would take a major dip in form combined with unhelpful results elsewhere for Widnes to slip up now.

In recent weeks, Betts has seen his charges come to terms with the concept of The Qualifiers though he’d really like to see them operating in a different sphere.

He said: "Our form’s good.

"It’s just a shame we’re in this group which is about survival rather knocking a few teams off in the top half of the table.

“We’ve learned over the last four or five weeks how to cope with the pressure The Qualifiers bring.

“It’s hard to understand the anxiety that builds up when everybody’s talking about the possibility of being relegated.

“It’s been a tight fight between that top four or five teams.

“Hull KR have broken away because they haven’t lost a game but they could have been beaten by us and found themselves in a situation.

“Realistically, it’s unlikely we’re not going to finish in the top three because of our points difference and having eight points now.

“We could end up on 12 points and looking really comfortable. But while you’re not at that point where you’re safe, it’s really hard.”

The Vikings 46-4 win over Wakefield at Belle Vue on Saturday was a clinical and thoroughly professional performance against a side with everything to play for.

Although full back Rhys Hanbury grabbed most of the headlines with a superb four-try showing Betts was delighted with the effort across the board.

He added: “On the back of the release we got from our big win at Bradford the week before, we showed that when we do get that ‘foot on the throat’ type of mentality, then we can just go after a side.

“I didn’t think Wakefield defended badly for large patches of the game, but with a little bit of quality and cutting-edge we were very determined to get that win.

“I thought both our halves were threats and so were our ‘nines’.

“Lloyd White had one of his best games, especially attacking-wise.

"He was really busy and dangerous, particularly when Aaron (Heremaia) came on the field.

“Aaron’s energy, enthusiasm and work-rate were amazing again which keeps giving us a boost.

“When you see Manase (Manuokafoa) come on the field and start punching holes in them after 20 minutes and then Aaron comes on and speeds the ruck up again, everybody gets excited about that.

“I’m pleased with the way we’re playing at the moment.

“I’ve changed a few things over the last few weeks just to tighten us up a touch around the ruck and just to build some field position.

“Then when we get some opportunities, we become a little bit more fearless with the ball.

“Because we’re defending really well, the mistakes aren’t hurting us so much if we do try to play. We’re just enjoying that side of the game.”

Widnes came out of the Wakefield game unscathed in terms of injuries and Betts may be tempted to name an unchanged side for Salford’s visit to the Select Security Stadium on Sunday.

The Red Devils are in third place in The Qualifiers, level on points with Widnes but with a massively inferior points difference.

A win or draw against Salford would make a top three finish a mathematical certainty for Widnes and confirm Super League status for 2016.