Eaton fears relegation dogfight ahead of derby date with Rams

The clubs face each other for the first time since both gained promotion but each is yet to taste victory in the Co-operative Championship.

Bottom-placed Keighley fought from behind to earn a 16-16 draw against Sheffield Eagles on Friday and have picked up three bonus points but are already battling against the odds due to their nine-point deduction for entering administration.

"We have to take three points off Dewsbury to possibly give ourselves any chance of staying up," said Eaton, whose side lost to the Rams twice last season when Dewsbury won every game on the way to the Championship One title.

"You've got to admire what they did last season but we've made great strides since especially with our strength and conditioning.

"Dewsbury's was better than everyone's in Championship One but we've shown we can cope with the physical demands of this division and there'll be two very evenly matched sides playing on Monday."

Keighley's Nathan Massey, the young Castleford Tigers prop signed on a dual-registered deal, suffered a shoulder injury during his debut against Sheffield and is out for up to a month.

Troubled Halifax face a crucial contest against Toulouse this evening as they seek to avoid a fourth successive loss, Good Friday's 44-4 annilihation by leaders Featherstone coming on the back of a similar thrashing by Leigh and a shock Northern Rail Cup exit against Hunslet.

Batley Bulldogs, who defeated Dewsbury on Good Friday, head to Leigh while Sheffield Eagles are at Barrow Raiders.