OLDHAM boss Scott Naylor insists York and Hunslet remain the favourites to reach the Championship One Grand Final - despite the Roughyeds’ fine form and compelling win over the Hawks last week.

The Lancastrians come to York tomorrow high in confidence having taken a big first step in the play-off series thanks to their 25-24 victory at South Leeds Stadium, after which Naylor said he had “never been more proud of a bunch of lads” in his 25 years in the game.

But the former England international has not forgotten their last visit to Huntington Stadium - a 54-12 walloping in July, described as the worst display in his two-year tenure - and, while a similar result is highly unlikely, he says his side face an “enormous task” to repeat their success of eight days ago.

“Hunslet and York still remain the favourites to get to the final. Not many people would have bet on Oldham getting promoted this year,” he said.

“We’ve got to go to York and see what happens. If we beat them it would be a step closer to what we want, but it’s an enormous task to go there and win.

“Last time we went to York we got beat by 50 points. I don’t think it will be the same result - that was a one-off where everything went wrong for us and York were extremely good. It will be much closer. The Hunslet game has given our lads a lot of confidence. We seem to be playing decent stuff and turning up with the right attitude.

“But the table shows they’ve been the best team this year. It’s a massive task.”

Tomorrow’s victors go straight into the Grand Final, with the losers facing the winners of Hunslet versus Gateshead for another shot at going through.

The Knights, having topped the table to earn home advantage, start as favourites - and Naylor seemed content to play the underdog card, even though his club know how to reach Grand Finals, having got to five of the last seven in Championship One, albeit losing them all.

Said Naylor: “If you had asked anyone in rugby league, they’d reckon Hunslet and York would get to the final.

“If we get there it would be a fantastic achievement but you then have to win it. There’s a long way to go and for us it’s step by step.”

Naylor would be hard pressed to alter his line-up but has not ruled it out, saying all his squad are fit barring half-back Brett Robinson.

“It was a very good performance last week - a very mature performance,” he said of the narrow victory, which was ultimately decided by an off-the-cuff drop goal at the end of the first half by Josh Crowley.

“We spent the first 40 minutes defending our own 30. Physically we showed a hell of a lot of attitude, grit and determination to get to half-time at 12-7 (behind), and in the second half we had a lot more ball and field position.

“It would be tough to change that team but I’m not averse to making changes if I think they will suit us. I will pick the best team to play York.”