Shaw looking to spoil Smith's farewell party

Championship League Leaders’ Rovers secured promotion with two fixtures remaining after beating top-flight Leigh Centurions and Widnes Vikings.

Despite a depleted side, they even looked on course to defeat Catalans Dragons, too, only to suffer a late heartbreak losing 20-19 last Friday.

However, they head to Qualifiers leaders Warrington Wolves this afternoon hoping to finish with a flourish.

Shaw admitted: “We were always confident of beating anyone in these Middle Eights.

“We’ve got what we wanted – promotion back to Super League – but we’d love to end on a high.

“It’d be nice to send our fans off with another victory

“We know Warrington will be strong; they’ve won all six of their games so far and are full of stars.

“But we’re capable of it and I’m sure we’ll turn up with the right attitude.”

Head coach Tim Sheens recalls the likes of Maurice Blair, Jamie Ellis, Thomas Minns and Lee Jewitt while Shaw, the club’s top tryscorer this term with 24, also returns after sitting out the Catalans game with sore ribs.

“We know it won’t be easy,” added Shaw, who started his career in Warrington’s academy but left without ever playing a senior game for the Wolves.

“But it’d be great for the club as a whole if we could finish this job off. We’d finish level with Warrington on six wins and 12 points although they’ve a better points difference so I don’t think we’d get first.

“But for the owners who have invested so much money in us this season – they could easily have walked away after relegation – it’d be great and just show what we’re capable ahead of 2018.”

Warrington, of course, will have other ideas; it is the final game of Tony Smith’s nine-year reign as head coach, during which time he has won three Challenge Cup finals, two League Leaders’ Shields and made two Grand Final appearances.

Sheens said: “I don’t see too many out of the Warrington side.

“It looks like one of their strongest teams. They’re sending a few players off as well as Tony, so there’s a lot of emotion there.”

Sheens will field winger Will Oakes and forward Joe Cator again after both youngsters impressed versus Catalans.

Both earned their debuts in March last year, have been used sporadically this term but now get another chance against Super League opponents.