CHRIS Cockton insists Bolton RUFC are up for the challenge after securing a play-off place last week thanks to a walkover victory in their home fixture against Ashton.

The Cherry and Whites will face St Helens side West Park on Saturday afternoon for the chance to bounce back to North One West at the first time of asking after the disappointment of last season’s relegation.

The game will be played at Avenue Street, due to Bolton’s superior points total in the two respective leagues, and after having just lost just once all season on home turf, Cockton believes his side are more than up to the task of securing a berth in next season’s sixth tier.

“Its something that as a team, once we knew the league title was out of reach, we have been aiming for and we’ve achieved that now," said Cockton. "But now it’s just important that we go out on Saturday and realise our goal and we get promoted again.

“Being at home is an enormous advantage, we’ve lost at home just once all season, to St Benedict's, and over the last few years, our record at home has been pretty good.

“This is the team's first play-off in recent years and fortunately they’ve all been at home and having that home advantage and the crowd behind you will obviously play into our hands.

“It’s something that the lads are used to you so being at home for us is a great benefit and hopefully we can use that to our advantage and get the win.”

Having finished second in the South Lancs/Cheshire League, West Park will be no pushovers, and will head down the M62 confident of promotion, despite losing their last two games.

Understandably given the context of the game, Cockton is wary of their threat and expects them to cause the hosts problems.

“They’re a team that I don’t think we’ve ever come across at first team level," he admits. "I’ve had a look at their results and league standing and I think we are very similar teams.

“So it’s going to be a tough game because obviously there’s a lot at stake for both sides and from what I can gather, they’re relatively strong up front, pacy out wide and with a good kicker out on the wing, so it’s important we don’t give them easy opportunities to score points.

“But I just think if our forwards can control the game, which I expect them to, then our backs will do the work around the outside.

“We just have to attack really with some aggression up front and pace out wide and hopefully that will do the job for us."