With all teams having four games left to play there is still everything to play for.

Table: (points and points difference)

Toronto 33 +817
Barrow 31 +331
Whitehaven 29 +233
York 24 +200
Dons 22 +118
Keighley 20 +213
Newcastle 18 +92
Workington 17 +4

Toronto would have to lose two of their last four games to possibly be caught at the top by Barrow. The top team is automatically promoted. Barrow travel to Toronto on the weekend of 3rd September. All four of Toronto's remaining games are at home.

Unless Whitehaven lose all four of their remaining games and we win all our matches, we can't get a home tie in the play-offs. The second and third placed teams are at home to the fourth and fifth placed sides. We can't catch Barrow.

The key battles seem to be for 4th, 5th, and 6th places. The Dons inferior points difference could become a factor. The remaining games:

[uW/E 20th August[/u:
Barrow v York
Whitehaven v Keighley
Workington v Dons
Toronto v Newcastle

Apart from a Dons win, we could do with Barrow beating York and Whitehaven beating Keighley.

[uW/E 3rd September[/u:
Barrow v Workington
Newcastle v Keighley
York v Dons
Toronto v Whitehaven

If we beat York we'd be level on points with them (based on today's table) but they'd still be ahead on points difference. We could do with Newcastle beating Keighley.

[uW/E 10th September[/u:
Dons v Newcastle
Keighley v Workington
Whitehaven v York
Toronto v Barrow

The Dons and Keighley will probably both be favourites to win their games. York have a tougher match. A defeat for them could mean we could over-take them for 4th.

[uW/E 17th September[/u:

Toronto v Dons
Barrow v Keighley
Workington v Whitehaven
York v Newcastle

It's a hard game for the Dons to finish on especially as Toronto may still need to win the game to be crowned champions. Keighley have a hard game at Barrow. York perhaps have a slightly easier challenge.

On balance, I'm slightly more concerned about Keighley catching us rather than whether we can overtake York. A defeat for the Dons at York would almost certainly mean we can't catch them. With their better points difference, it means they'd have to lose all of their other three games and we'd have to win all ours.

A win against York would opens things up nicely but we'd probably still have to win in Toronto to finish fourth.

Keighley are the bigger concern but three of their four remaining games are away from home. They'll fancy their chances of beating Workington in their one remaining home game but trips to Whitehaven, Newcastle, and Barrow will be tough. They need to win one more game than us to overtake us.

Four wins out of four for the Dons mean Keighley can't catch us; three wins out of four means we should be okay; two wins out of four could spell danger but might be okay; one win out of four and I think we'll be in trouble as I fancy Keighley to beat Workington and Newcastle. That would be enough for them to overtake us.

Fascinating stuff!

Dunno if things have changed ...but in the old days, if you won away at a higher club you claimed their home advantage.
Therefore we need to finish fifth not fourth .
Can someone confirm if this is still the case?
With our luck probably not.
The third and fourth clubs would be livid.

The highest placed team based on league table positions is at home in the play-off final.

The semi finals will be 2 v 5 and 3 v 4.

If 5 beat 2 and 4 beat 3, team four would be at home in the final. Team five don't take over as the highest ranked team left in even though they've beaten team 2.

Consequently, it's not possible for team 5 to be at home in the final as there will always be a better placed team playing against them. We need to finish 4th and hope team 5 beats team 2. Then we'd be at home in the final - against York, I would imagine!

2 v 5
3 v 4

Then highest placed finalist at home in final .

COYD

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/doncaster-dons Horne on Workington , Kesik an injury doubt COYD

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/doncaster-dons Horne on Workington , Kesik an injury doubt COYD

Correct me if I have this wrong but did Kyle do his hamstring on the chase from that kick (with a lot of top spin) from the French lad that the Haven 5 thought may have gone dead but the pressure from Kyle (superb chase) did for him and forced the drop out. It changed that last 15 mins IMO.

Squad for Sunday:

Zac Braham, Tom Carr, Mark Castle, Kieran Cross, Sam Doherty, Pete Green, Jordie Hedges, Mike Kelly, Charlie Martin, Jack Miller, Hakim Miloudi, Jason Muranka, Feka Paleaaesina, Nick Rawsthorne, Louis Sheriff, Russ Spiers, Jason Tali, Jamie Thackray, Ryan Wright.

No Kyle Kesik. I think Moonshine was right about the injury. Mike Kelly included. Tom Carr back. No Jordan Howden again. I wonder what the situation is with him?

I can't believe hes put Carr in, he's not had a decent game all season! would have been better with England in squad if he's not injured

www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk Russ Spiers ................... COYD

www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk Russ Spiers ................... COYD

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/doncaster-dons Horne .........

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/doncaster-dons Horne .........

I don't think we can underestimate the importance of the Whitehaven v Keighley game today. If Keighley win they could be hot on our tails; if they lose, it's going to be hard for them to overtake us. A loss for Keighley and a win for the Dons would put us in a good place. A loss for the Dons and a win for Keighley would mean we're out of the top five.

Match odds for today's games sees the Dons at 4/7 with Workington available at 6/4.

Whitehaven are 2/5 to beat Keighley. Keighley can be backed at 2.9 to 1.

Barrow are 1/3 to beat York. York are available at 3/1.

All today's latest match odds can be seen at Oddschecker: [urlhttps://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-league/match-coupon[/url

Three wins for the favourites wouldn't go amiss!

5 mins ... Workington 0 Dons 6

Try Feka
Conv Miller

17 mins ... Workington 0 Dons 8

Pen Miller

There has been a stoppage for an injury to Rawsthorne.

Half time: Whitehaven 20 Keighley 0

Keighley have given away too many penalties and fluffed their chances when they've had them.

Half Time:

Barrow 6, York 7.

26 mins ... Sheriff sin-binned (high tackle).

28 mins ... Workington 4 Dons 8

32 mins ... Workington 10 Dons 8

Looks a very costly sin-bin.

Radio Cumbria commentary says Dons' head have gone down after the sin-binning.

36 mins ... Workington 14 Dons 8

HT ... Workington 14 Dons 9

Drop Goal Miller

43 mins ... Workington 16 Dons 9

49 mins ... Workington 16 Dons 15

Try Tali
Conv Miller

54 mins ... Workington 22 Dons 15