Batley v Salford: Qualifiers preview

John Griffin says his side need to concentrate on playing their game and not worry about the opposition

Salford's place in Super League goes on the line at Batley on Sunday as the Super 8s Qualifiers reach a gripping climax.

The Red Devils' survival hopes could rest on victory in the Million Pound Match following their shock home defeat by London Broncos, but first they must overcome the part-time Bulldogs in the last match of the regular season.

Defeat would trigger automatic relegation as long as London Broncos beat Featherstone in Ealing to take their spot in the Million Pound Match next Saturday.

"We were massively disappointed with the game that we just tossed up last weekend," said Salford's Josh Griffin, whose two late tries were not enough to prevent his side going down to a potentially costly 19-16 defeat.

"Every one of us is hurting. We know the fans are hurting and we know the club is in a sticky situation now.

"We've ripped in at training this week, the lads have been really honest with each other and that's the main thing. We've held our hands up and now we must get out of this hole we've got ourselves in.

"We know what's on the line - people's careers and mortgages, everything is on the line. We know what we've got to do to get over the line."

Emotions are sure to be running high at the Fox's Biscuit Stadium as Batley coach John Kear brings his five-year tenure to an end ahead of a move to Super League club Wakefield, where he will be joined by skipper Keegan Hirst.

As a former Batley player, Griffin is acutely aware of the threat posed by the Championship side and in particular the notorious Mount Pleasant slope.

"Batley know how to play the hill and they catch a few teams cold because people do turn up and are shocked by how big it is," added Griffin, who is guaranteed to be in Super League in 2017 after signing for Hull.

"From my time there, it's one where you've just got to go with them when they're going down the hill. Batley like to go up the hill first half and then come down the hill in the second.

"We've just got to go with them on that, not get dragged into their fight and just play our normal game."

Batley: Shaun Ainscough, Luke Blake, Dom Brambani, Alex Bretherton, Joe Chandler, James Davey, Brad Day, Adam Gledhill, James Harrison, Keegan Hirst, Alastair Leak, Tom Lillycrop, Wayne Reittie, Alex Rowe, Dave Scott, Sam Smeaton, Cain Southernwood, Chris Ulugia, Pat Walker.

Salford: Luke Burgess, Michael Dobson, Niall Evalds, Mark Flanagan, George Griffin, Josh Griffin, Weller Hauraki, Greg Johnson, Josh Jones, Sean Kenny, Olsi Krasniqi, Rob Lui, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Gareth O'Brien, Junior Sa'u, Logan Tomkins, Daniel Vidot, Adam Walne, Jordan Walne.