3:00pm Wednesday 18th August 2010
By Mike Critchley
VIKINGS need at least a point from their remaining two Championship games to guarantee a top six play-off place.
Although Widnes are currently in fifth spot they can still be caught by seventh placed Batley and so will be going all out to make sure of securing their berth in the finale.
But as important to assistant coach Mick Cassidy is building momentum ahead of those crunch knock-out games.
Cassidy, still currently in joint charge of the team along with Stuart Wilkinson, said: “At this end of the season it is all about getting momentum for the play-offs.
“Every coach will tell you that is about how you finish a season not how you start it.
“We have just started to get a bit of momentum as regards to players – and that is because we have a more or less settled team.”
Vikings have won their last two matches convincingly to allay real fears of not making it into the end of season knockout phase, which, injuries aside, would have been embarrassing for a club of their stature and ambition.
Vikings head up to old rivals Barrow tonight, Wednesday, in a re-arranged game, before travelling to basement-side Keighley on Sunday.
Cassidy said: “We have two more chances to finish in the top six and so we are not going to be resting anybody.
“Fingers crossed everybody who played last week against Sheffield has come through unscathed.”
None of the long-term casualties, including club captain Dave Allen, are due to return.
The play-off system is the same as last year with the teams finishing in the top two - Featherstone and Halifax - getting the week off.
Vikings will travel to either Leigh or Barrow in their first knock-out game, with the losers eliminated.
Out of those in contention for a Super League licence Vikings, Barrow and Halifax have already got a tick in the playing box.
Leigh, the only credible challenger to Widnes’ Super League ambition will have to qualify for the Grand Final this time to even get on the shortlist.
Away from first team action it was a winning week for Vikings.
The first team started it with a win over Sheffield Eagles.
On Saturday, the Vikings academy team kept this momentum going, with a 34-20 win over Wigan Warriors at Widnes RUFC.
The reserve grade also then won at Sheffield Eagles by 44-16.
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