The Bridgend club, who are in their third season in the National League, are one of 19 applicants for the 14 licences which will be announced by the Rugby Football League this morning.

It would be a surprise if any of the current 12 Super League clubs lose their top-flight status while Leigh, Featherstone, Halifax and French outfit Toulouse are seen as outsiders to land a three-year licence.

Celtic Crusaders chief executive David Thompson said: "We're extremely confident with what we've achieved and with what we've put together for our application.

"If we didn't think we were ready for Super League, we wouldn't have made the application."

Widnes went into administration last September but were hauled back from the brink in the winter by local businessman Steve O'Connor.

He insists the club are now on a firm financial footing.

"I believe we have put together an irresistible licence application to the RFL," he said.