Just how important is this fixture now in terms of finishing in the play offs?

I sincerely believe that if the Club's aspiration is a top 5 finish and a shot at promotion via the play off route, there can be no further home defeats.

My personal view is that there are players not currently playing who would add something but I genuinely don't know if some / all of these are available (or not)?

The Cougars have won their last three fixtures against Coventry, North Wales and London Skolars scoring 170 points and conceding 52, confidence therefore should be high.

Conversely, the Dons looked lacking in confidence and team spirit at Oldham so Richard Horne and his staff have work to do in the coming days.

I agree with Wanderer. We cannot afford to lose any more home games if we want to finish in the top five.

Team
1 Bradford 11 10 0 1 510 111 399 20
2 York 11 9 0 2 514 160 354 18
3 Oldham 11 8 0 3 366 138 228 16
4 Dons 11 7 0 4 384 207 177 14
5 Worky 11 7 0 4 379 211 168 14
6 Keighley 11 7 0 4 426 274 152 14
7 Haven 11 7 0 4 332 226 106 14
8 Hunslet 11 7 0 4 333 232 101 14
9 Newcastle 11 5 0 6 328 248 80 10
10 N Wales 11 4 1 6 267 254 13 9
11 Skolars 11 3 1 7 272 398 -126 7
12 Coventry 10 1 0 9 122 492 -370 2
13 Hemel 11 0 0 11 92 570 -478 0
14 W Wales 10 0 0 10 64 868 -804 0

Apologies for the crappy way the site shows the table but spaces are omitted for some reason. It looked tidy when I did it!

The top eight is looking threateningly crowded. The only top eight side we've actually beaten so far is Whitehaven.

We seemed to peak in the cup game at home to Newcastle. We put up spirited displays against Bradford, York, and Fev before disappointing against Hunslet and Oldham. With confidence seemingly low, beating Keighley won't be easy. Without knowing the injury situation and any 'non-availability' issues, it seems strange that AJB hasn't been playing and Frankie Mariano didn't play last Sunday. I wonder what's happened to Brad England lately?

It'll be interesting to see if Hakim Miloudi comes our way at the weekend or whether he's done enough to keep his place on the wing for Hull.

i'm quickly losing interest again why these players are not in nobody knows. AJB was playing out of his skin thens goes missing. No brad england all of a sudden, No mariano.

There's no reason at all why we couldn't be told why they're missing especially if its an injury.
Just say which players are injured this week and cant play thats all we need to know, but everything is top secret probably because they are't injured but then why are they not playing because If AJB is not injured there is no way Sanderson should be in front of him on the form he was in.

Too much Hull favouritism by the looks.
Losing interest and patience just going same way as last 2 years.

Club doncaster proved they won't spend with the Ferguson debacle, he went coz they wouldn't finance the players he wanted,
but yet they still want him to get the team in the play offs WTF.

I feel if we lose to Keighley on Sunday then our chances of a top 5 finish are all but over.

With 9 away fixtures against most of the leagues better sides I would envisage we finished the campaign with between 28 to 32 points.

We will pick up points against the usual suspects, but after Sundays display the current top three are assured of a play off spot while we fight it out with the so called mid table sides for places 4 to 8.

This after all the promotion hype is unacceptable and questions need to be asked as to the clubs future ambitions.

Its all well and good for Carl to sit in his ivory tower telling us that season ticket sales have been a massive success and that with the Hull dual reg we have elite players at our disposal , but the facts remain its the same old story every year with the same result.

Aside from Miloudi can we say we have gained anything from our DR partner?
Three coaches have come and gone ,all with the promise of cash to spend and promotion to the Championship the aspiration.

The facts are that this division has some quality sides ,the top teams have in the main invested in players that have proven track records and have played at a higher level , we on the other hand are reliant on Hull for that extra quality that has been lacking from the get go. It must be frustrating for our players to play well one week only to be replaced by a Hull player needing to get some minutes in as they may be called up to the first team to cover injuries.

I don't know if players are injured but if AJB ,Welham and England are fit then they should play...……………... or has been mentioned previously are we a Hull fc feeder club.

Owing to circumstances, I haven't watched the Dons since the Bradford game of which I watched only 50 mins anyway.
So it will seem strange watching them on Sunday ...
I shan't expect too much ... it will just be a day out and a good drink in town.

I thought the Hull lads would make a big difference to us and win us games. The fact is they haven't really done that against anybody remotely good.

The Dons have little chance of pulling any trees up the way we are set up so in my mind I have just accepted that and will see out my season ticket games ... no away games attended.

We have to recognise that we need to bin foolish notions ... it can't be done on two and six.

So you takes it or leaves it on the basis that we have found our level.
There are worse things in life and we need some perspective.

We ain't going anywhere good but enjoy the ride.

Hull's squad for the Friday night game:

Jamie Shaul, Bureta Faraimo, Carlos Tuimavave, Albert Kelly, Scott Taylor, Mark Minichiello, Jake Connor, Chris Green, Danny Washbrook, Brad Fash, Mickey Paea, Jack Logan, Jordan Lane, Jack Downs, Hakim Miloudi, Masi Matongo, Cameron Scott, Joe Westerman, Liam Harris.

It's possible that those who don't play may feature for us on Sunday.

Whoopee id be more happy to see Zac in the team sunday where he should be.
the clubs just blown it with me now i said i was losing patience but the latest news is too stupid too consoder a top player leaves coz hes not playing the others i mentioned will be next.
there are some people in the backrooms that need to take a good look at themselves and what they are doing, whoever they may be, but they should know but may be not!

I do know that Brad England was carrying an injury, he was hoping to be back for the Keighley game so we will see when the team is put out.

Thanks Baz. I think we need to have a discussion about this at the fans' meeting next Monday.

I appreciate that the club might not want to divulge info to other teams as to who may or may not be playing but we need to get the balance right between doing that and keeping fans informed.

Will be interesting to see the 19 man squad hope we see some Doncaster players back .

All we need to know is that the player is injured. Not his full medical history and see his sick note! but then that would be too simple to put out even if they're not, just to please us because we have the gall to ask a simple question.its worse than mi5. I will not be coming next season thats if i can carry on with this one.

Squad for Sunday:

Lewis Bienek (Loan), Connor Bower, Ryan Boyle, Kieran Cross, Sam Doherty, Brad England, Jordie Hedges, Jordan Howden, Kyle Kesik, Jordan Lane (D/R), Charlie Martin, Jason Muranka, Ross Osborne (D/R), Richard Owen, Jack Sanderson (Loan), Russ Spiers, Jason Tali, Liam Welham, Brandan Wilkinson.

Jordan Lane comes into the squad. No Liam Harris or Hakim Miloudi. Brad England is back but no AJB.

Our only ever-present Connor Scott is missing (presumed injured).

So we sell our star half back and 3 weeks later still not replaced him.. I can’t see us creating much with just 1 half back in the squad. Looks like our forwards will have to muscle up on Sunday.

I assume Hedges will partner Howden.

I'd have thought Cross.

I think Jordie is better coming of the bench at loose forward.

19 MAN KEIGHLEY SQUAD TO FACE DONCASTER:
1 – Ritchie Hawkyard
2 – Andy Gabriel
4 – Adam Ryder
5 – Davey Dixon
7 – Matty Beharrell
8 – Scott Law
9 – Nathan Conroy
12 – Brendon Rawlins
13 – Mike Emmett
15 – Ryan Wright
16 – Harvey Hallas
17 – Cameron Leeming
19 – Matthew Bailey
23 – Benn Hardcastle
28 – Harry Aaronson
29 – Brad Nicholson
32 – Dan Parker
34 – Perry Whiteley
35 – Darrell Griffin

Mike Emmett and Brad Nicholson will be up for this one. We need to stop Matty Beharrell running the show for Keighley and Mike Emmett from refereeing the game. Adam Ryder is a player I've always rated. Whoever plays opposite him in the centres is going to have to deal with him or else he'll cut us up.

I know some people have been unhappy about a few things lately but let's get behind the lads and try and lift them. I love games like this. It'll be rough and tough rugby between two probably quite evenly matched sides. If we can get behind them we might just be able to help make a difference.

Dons -6 @ 10/11 with Bet365.

This game is really tough to call from a betting point of view because the Dons seem out of form and Keighley seem in better form.

I think it could go either way. The Dons could come back to form and win by a few, or they could lose by a far margin.

Confidence and momentum in sport play a huge part. If we can get off to a good start, do the simple things well, complete our sets and stay disciplined we'll give our selves a good chance.

I've lost count of the number of rugby games I've watched this season, never mind over my life-time, but after the above, and not giving away silly penalties, the one over-riding factor that seems to determine the winner, is the side that makes the yards after impact in the tackle. Let's hope that's the Dons today.

I'm very much looking forward to the game. I love my Sundays watching rugby.

Cut out the silly penalties and we should be favourites.
Emmitt will niggle and try to provoke a reaction, but we just need to concentrate on our own game and not let our own indiscipline cost us the game.
A must win game ,lose and the season is over.

The Dons don't make those big yards after impact so they are already a key factor inferior to Keighley by your assertion.

'Hope', by the way, is a poor substitute for a good set of forwards.

We will struggle.

Was watching Wakefield demolish Wigan the other day with their (Wakey's) forward pack.
That's a set of forwards ...

Wakey were awesome and gave Wigan a lesson in intensity too. I like watching the skills of the backs but you can't beat a good dust up in the forwards!

I take your point that the Dons haven't been making those yards after impact. This is where I believe we need to improve if we're to win today. Wakey lost five games running recently and they haven't suddenly got a new set of forwards. They've got a set of forwards who are doing their job better. We need our forwards to rise to the challenge in the same way too.

It'll be interesting to see how Lewis Bienek goes. I hope Ross Osbourne can see this one through without getting injured. The poor lads not had much luck this season. If they have good games, I can see them setting a good platform for us.

I think we will turn up today and be better and sharper than them but I called wins against Oldham and hunslet! still I'm going for a 10-12pt win (is that alright for you richardc, carl hall, nigel brooks? can I join your gang now) COYD.