OLDHAM Rugby League Club go to Rochdale on Sunday (1pm) with no injury concerns and quietly confident they can win this Betfred League One play-off Eliminator despite losing twice to Hornets in the league.

Sunday’s winners go on to play the losers of the North Wales Crusaders v Doncaster game, away from home, while the losers of the Crown Oil Arena derby go out. Their season will be over.

So why do Roughyheds fans think they might still be supporting their favourites next week after Hornets won 34-18 at the Crown Oil Arena in April and 50-24 at the Vestacare Stadium in July ?

Several reasons.

Firstly, Stu Littler’s boys are playing better now, with more resilience and certainly a lot more self-belief, than they have had previously.

Secondly, all the pressure is on Rochdale, as the home side and one that finished the regular season with five more wins than their derby rivals.

Thirdly, there were long periods of both league games when Roughyeds were on top and looked capable of winning.

Fourthly, and admittedly only on paper, Hornets don’t look as strong as they did earlier in the year, prior to the departure of head coach Matt Calland.

On Good Friday at their place, Oldham led 6-2 approaching half an hour and were still on terms at 12-12 at half-time. The second half belonged to Hornets, but one thinks this Oldham won’t collapse in the second 40 like that one did.

In the return match at the Vestacare, Roughyeds were totally dominant in the first half and led 24-6 going into the break.

Two things happened then. Calland, we believe, read the Riot Act. Oldham rolled over and looked totally incapable of dealing with Hornets’ young, on-loan tearaway forward Fenton Rogers, whose dad used to play for Roughyeds.

Two-try Rogers put Oldham on the back foot, whereupon maverick Kiwi, Rangi Chase, ran Roughyeds ragged as the visitors went from 6-24 down to 50-24 winners.

An amazing fightback like that won’t happen again - it just won’t !

Meanwhile, Hornets have confirmed that the entire main stand will be open, providing a capacity of 1,600.

There were initial fears that they would get only half the stand - 954 - but they announced the bigger capacity after further talks with Rochdale FC.

Prices are £16 adults, £14 concessions, £5 students, free for under-16s.