The race for a place in the Grand Final intensifies this weekend as the Betfred Championship Play-Offs finally begin.
Four fascinating ties kick off the opening week, with the league’s heavyweights Oldham and Widnes Vikings meeting in the first Qualifying Semi-Final, while Doncaster and Barrow do battle in the other.
Elsewhere, Sheffield Eagles host Batley Bulldogs in the Eliminators, and Midlands Hurricanes welcome Whitehaven.
The first Play-Off fixture of 2026 sees Midlands and Whitehaven go head-to-head on the Saturday - and it promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.
There has been little to separate these two sides this year. Whitehaven edged a thrilling 24-30 victory when the clubs last met in June, while their earlier meeting finished all square at 20-20.
Then, there’s a standout clash when Oldham host Widnes Vikings on Sunday.
The Vikings claimed an 12-18 victory in February before the Roughyeds responded in emphatic fashion with a 10-28 success in June.
Oldham have established themselves as genuine contenders throughout the 2026 campaign, with Alan Kilshaw’s side the only club to inflict a defeat on the league leaders London Broncos this season.
But so have Widnes, who finished fifth in the league standings and arrive in the Play-Offs buoyed by an appearance in last week's 1895 Cup Final, as they went toe-to-toe in the 1895 Cup Final with the Broncos for large periods.
Expect fireworks!
Two clubs with plenty of Play-Off experience lock horns at The MEPS International Home of Football Stadium when Sheffield Eagles face Batley Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs won the most recent encounter 24-14, but the Eagles recorded a comfortable 50-18 victory in the reverse fixture earlier that season.
For Batley, performances improved in the second half of the year, helping them climb to secure the tenth and final Play-Off place.
Finally, two of the top six, Doncaster and Barrow, prepare to play each other once more.
The teams shared the spoils during the regular campaign. The Raiders claimed a convincing 36-12 win in May, but the Dons gained revenge last month with a dramatic 25-26 victory away from home.
Can either side leave their mark on the 2026 Play-Offs?
Betfred Championship Play-Offs Week 1 fixtures:
Qualifying Semi-Final 1 - Oldham RLFC v Widnes Vikings - Sunday 6 September (K.O. 2pm)
Qualifying Semi-Final 2 - Doncaster RLFC v Barrow Raiders - Sunday 6 September (K.O. 3pm)
Eliminator 1 - Sheffield Eagles v Batley Bulldogs - Sunday 6 September (K.O. 3pm)
· Eliminator 2 - Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven RLFC - Saturday 5 September (K.O. 2pm)
Betfred Championship Play-Offs Week 2:
· Qualifying Final 1 – London Broncos v Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
· Qualifying Final 2 – Newcastle Thunder v Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
· Elimination Final 1 - Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Lowest Ranked Eliminator Winners
· Elimination Final 2 - Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Highest Ranked Eliminator Winners
