Kells coach Peter Smith admits it’s “squeaky bum time” for his team as they reach the final fixture in National Conference Premier Division.

It has become a little too close for comfort as the Whitehaven club have still not pulled clear of the relegation zone.

Smith wants his players to achieve safety on their own, by beating West Hull at home tomorrow in the last game of the season.

“It’s going to be tough because there’s something to play for in virtually all the fixtures. West Hull will want to hold on to second place and their rivals Thatto Heath have a home game against already-relegated Wigan St. Patrick’s,” he said.

“If we can beat them, we don’t have to rely on anyone else doing us a favour.”

Smith was disappointed Kells gave away two soft tries in their 13-4 defeat at Egremont last Friday when all the other points came from kicks.

Normanton Knights and Rochdale Mayfield are the two other sides vying to stay in the top-flight with Kells.

Interestingly, both face sides jockeying to finish fifth or sixth in the play-offs with the Rochdale team hosting Underbank Rangers while Normanton visit Cumbria to take on Wath Brow.

There is not much doubt that all three Cumbrian clubs in the Premier Division would want their local rivals to stay there with them, if only for the extra revenue generated at derby clashes.

So even if they had not been in play-off contention, Wath Brow would want to win for themselves first, and then also for Kells.

Egremont are also involved in the play-offs and will expect to finish off the regular programme with a win as they travel to the bottom side Myton Warriors who have earned only seven points so far from their 21 games.

A win could make it a three-way tie for second place – but Egremont do have the poorest scoring differential of the three – and besides it’s very unlikely that Thatto Heath will slip-up against Wigan St. Patrick’s.

Round one of the Cumberland Cup dominates the Iggesund Cumberland ARL programme tomorrow.

Early in the season Distington v Hensingham would have been the stand-out tie but the Whitehaven side, badly hit by injuries, have been a fading force.

Distington, who were presented with their Premier Division winners trophy last week, will be expected to sweep their rivals aside – unless Hensingham’s bruised and battered squad is able to call on more of the team which beat Distington at the start of the campaign.

Cockermouth Titans v Aspatria Hornets is a clash of two well-matched Division One sides while Glasson v Seaton should also be a keenly contested affair.

The bottom line, though, at this stage of the season is just how strong a team the various clubs put out and that will also apply to Ellenborough v Kells A.