Road trip success sees Sheffield stand just 80 minutes from Grand Final spot as high-flying Eagles face Halifax

ANOTHER away game will not daunt Sheffield Eagles as they bid to continue their incredible journey and reach a first-ever Championship Grand Final.

Mark Aston's side head to last year's runners-up Halifax on Thursday night having already gone on the road to knock-out Super League hopefuls Leigh and defending champions Barrow Raiders during their play-off adventure.

The rank outsiders from South Yorkshire may have finished sixth but have won six of their last seven trips away from Bramall Lane.

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They know one more victory in the final eliminator at The Shay will see them face minor premiers Featherstone Rovers at Warrington on September 26.

"The players are buzzing," admitted Aston, whose battling side again came from behind to triumph 21-14 at Barrow on Friday evening.

"There's no doubting we are playing really well.

"It was a great defensive effort up there after winning at Leigh as well.

"We need to keep it up at Halifax but in both games when we've gone behind we've got ourselves back in it in the very next set of six and the attitude has been outstanding."

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Sheffield are, indeed, relishing sudden-death rugby, each week knowing defeat will see their season over.

They trailed 14-8 at Craven Park but finished powerfully as Alex Rowe and Craig Cook scored tries in the final 10 minutes to stun Barrow.

Halifax get a second chance to reach the final after losing 46-16 at Featherstone and they have defeated the Eagles in both Championship games this season.

But Aston admitted: "We feel we've let ourselves down in the league against them.

"We were winning 26-12 there and blew it.

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"We did that against Widnes too and a couple of times through the season but we've found consistency now.

"What has shown recently is that we can play for 80 minutes. We will need to do that to beat Halifax."

Sheffield, who memorably won at Featherstone last month, have timed their run to perfection and shrugged off the loss of talismanic full-back Misi Taulapapa who broke his leg in the first minute against Leigh.

Reaching the final would be their finest achievement since winning the Challenge Cup in 1998 when Aston memorably won the Lance Todd Trophy against Wigan.

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"We've done a lot of hard work in the last couple of weeks and don't want to throw that away," he said.

"Misi has been a massive part of this team and we want to do it for him as well as those who are leaving at the end of the season like Brendon Lindsay.

"He's going back to Australia but, watching him on Friday, you can tell he doesn't want to go just yet.

"Obviously, with people like Ben Black, Shad Royston and Luke Branighan, Halifax have people who can play."

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Success would also give Eagles a significant off-field boost as they look to build attendances ahead of an eventual bid for Super League.

"We know we're not quite ready for Super League but we've got the facilities, infrastructure and scholarship system in place," said Aston.

"Getting to a final would also tick a box.

"We do need more fans but we're hoping next year we'll get more people down watching us and reaching a final the interest in the city will develop.

"It's not long ago we were in Super League and we can get that support again."

Aston hopes to name an unchanged side for Thursday's game although Peter Green is suffering with a pectoral injury.