They are one of a couple of sides sliding under the radar quite nicely in League 1 – and Carl Forster believes Whitehaven’s clash with league leaders York on Sunday will show just what his side are capable of in 2018.
Haven sit just outside the play-off places, but know that victory on Sunday, combined with winning their game in hand against Hunslet next week, will move them as high as third in the table.
And Forster told TotalRL he believes this is the ideal game to act as a yardstick for Haven’s potential.
“We’ve had a few tough weeks and York have had a few nice games,” he said. “Hopefully with us being battle-hardened a bit, it will pay off. They’re a great squad and the direction they’re going in on and off the field, we’re quite envious of it.
“We’ll see where we’re at on Sunday; whether we’re in and amongst the Yorks of this league, or chasing them for the rest of the year. It’s a big game.”
Forster is also aware that, after a sluggish start to the campaign, Haven are already chasing their tails when it comes to the leading pack.
“I think the slow start has killed us,” he said.
“We had Oldham in the first game, and that could have gone either way. It was a slugfest on a boggy pitch, but then we went to Doncaster and we had the reality check we needed. We know if we win our game in hand we could go to third. The next four or five weeks determine where our season goes.”
And in terms of making a statement to the rest by inflicting only a second league defeat of the season on York?
“I just think it’ll reiterate how good League 1 is in terms of anyone beating anyone,” he said.
“Hunslet winning at Doncaster last week.. nobody would have given them a chance and they’ve blown it wide open in terms of catching Donny now. Us winning.. it’ll bang that drum a bit more that the competition is a fantastic one.”