Play-off party time

The first hurdle is Workington at Park Lane in the preliminary semi-final. The other game sees Sheffield Eagles entertain Hunslet Hawks.

"We're absolutely delighted to have got this far," said Lions' director Richard Taylor.

"We set out to improve on last year's seventh-placed finish and to get into the play offs, but finishing fourth has guaranteed us a home tie.

"When you think it could have been even better.

"We finished on the same points as third-placed Sheffield and had we not slipped up in London and beaten Barrow at home we would have finished champions!

"Our focus is now on beating Workington, but it won't be easy.

"They are probably the most improved team in the division. If you were going to pick an outsider to make the Grand Final it would be them.

"Their coach, Kiwi Gerard Stokes, has signed a lot of very good New Zealand 'A' players.

"They set off poorly and Stokes was under pressure but all credit to him, he has turned things around and they have improved out of sight. It will be a tough game but home advantage counts for a lot in the play offs."

Town finished directly beneath the Lions but four points adrift of them. During the season the Lions thrashed the Cumbrians 64-26 in the first meeting at Park Lane, but lost the return at Derwent Park 40-22.

If the Lions are successful the following week they would face the winners of the Sheffield Eagles/Hunslet Hawks game in the qualifying semi-final.

"Sheffield's play-maker, Gary Brown, has broken his hand and will be out of the play offs and without him they are not quite the same team, plus we've always done alright against them," said Taylor.

"But if Hunslet win and we beat Workington then we would face Hunslet at home."

If they come through that they would travel to face the loser of the Halifax/York City Knights, victory ensuring a place in the Grand Final.

Should the Lions be unsuccessful in the play offs they will face Keighley Cougars in National Two next year, after they were relegated after finishing the current season bottom of the National One pile.

PLAY OFF FORMAT

Week 1 - Preliminary semis

A - (3) Sheffield Eagles v (6) Hunslet Hawks - winner through to Qualifying semis

B - (4) LIONS v (5) Workington Town - winner through to Qualifying semis

Week 2 - Qualifying semis

C - (1) Halifax v (2) York City Knights - winner through to final, loser through to Major semis

D - Sheffield Eagles/Hunslet Hawks v LIONS/Workington Town - winner through to Major semis

Week 3 - Major semis

E - (Loser) Halifax/York City Knights v Sheffield Eagles/Hunslet Hawks/LIONS/Workington Town - winner through to final

Week 4 - Grand Final

F - Halifax/York City Knights - v - Sheffield Eagles/Hunslet Hawks/LIONS/Workington Town

National One

P W D L F A Pts

Leigh Centurions... 18 14 0 4 686 407 28

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Whitehaven... 18 14 0 4 552 312 28

Hull KR... 18 10 0 8 466 428 20

Oldham... 18 10 0 8 482 503 20

Featherstone Rovers... 18 9 1 8 500 491 19

Doncaster Dragons... 18 9 0 9 503 534 18

Batley Bulldogs... 18 8 0 10 478 469 16

Rochdale Hornets... 18 7 1 10 472 587 15

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Halifax... 18 6 0 12 426 492 12

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Keighley Cougars... 18 1 0 17 366 708 2

National Two

P W D L F A Pts

Barrow Raiders... 18 14 1 3 521 346 29

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York City Knights... 18 13 0 5 634 308 26

Sheffield Eagles... 18 12 0 6 569 344 24

LIONS... 18 12 0 6 547 460 24

Workington Town... 18 10 0 8 597 479 20

Hunslet Hawks... 18 10 0 8 475 394 20

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Chorley Lynx... 18 7 2 9 460 522 18

London Skolars... 18 6 0 12 361 583 12

Dewsbury Rams... 18 3 1 14 284 595 7

Gateshead Thunder... 18 1 0 17 298 715 2