Hull KR v Widnes: Toughest game of the season so far, says Rovers boss Tim Sheens
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 09/09/17 7:57am
Hull KR coach Tim Sheens is urging his players to prepare for their toughest test of the season when Widnes visit KCOM Craven Park in the fifth round of the Super 8s Qualifiers on Saturday.
Rovers have won all four games so far and victory over the Vikings would take them another step towards automatic promotion back to Super League, especially if fourth-placed Leigh lose at Warrington, the other team with a 100 per cent record.
The top three clubs will be in the top flight in 2018, while the fourth and fifth-placed teams will fight it out for the other spot via the dreaded Million-Pound Game, which Rovers lost to Salford in 2016.
The Warrington game kicks off 15 minutes earlier but Sheens insists he will not be keeping an ear out for the result and he does not want his players thinking about it either.
"Winning this game doesn't necessarily mean that we'll be promoted, losing it doesn't necessarily mean that we won't be," Sheens said.
"It just comes down to focusing on this game and this week.
"I won't be interested in the Warrington versus Leigh game even with 15 minutes to go. Who knows where we are going to be at that point in our match, and it's just going to be about us winning.
"The fans may know what's going on at Warrington but I don't want to and I don't want my players to, because winning is what we need to do. Whether Warrington win or not, we still want to win this game."
Widnes, who finished bottom of the Super League table at the end of the regular season, have boosted their survival hopes with a run of three wins but suffered a double blow in their victory over Leigh last Sunday, losing full-back Rhys Hanbury and half-back Danny Craven to season-ending injuries.
"I think this will be the toughest game we've had so far this year," Sheens added.
"I think they've been the best-performing side in this competition if you look at their form over the last few weeks. They've really been going well and, although I know they've got a few issues with their spine, the options they've got to bring in are still very good players who have been playing Super League all year.
"They're battle-hardened and whilst we are also, it's not to that level. It's a real challenge for our players to raise themselves to the level that we reached against Leigh this year."
Hull KR: Jordan Abdull, Danny Addy, Chris Atkin, Maurice Blair, Justin Carney, Chris Clarkson, Jamie Ellis, James Greenwood, Andrew Heffernan, Lee Jewitt, Ben Kavanagh, George Lawler, Shaun Lunt, Mose Masoe, Thomas Minns, Kieren Moss, Adam Quinlan, Nick Scruton, Ryan Shaw.
Widnes Vikings: Jack Buchanan, Greg Burke, Hep Cahill, Chris Dean, Gil Dudson, Alex Gerrard, Aaron Heremaia, Chris Houston, Ryan Ince, Jordan Johnstone, Manase Manuokafoa, Stefan Marsh, Joe Mellor, Tom Olbison, Charly Runciman, Corey Thompson, Danny Walker, Lloyd White, Matt Whitley.