Whitehaven cannot come up as the ground is not up to Super League standard and Halifax and Sheffield do not wish to be considered for promotion this season.

The National League One Grand Final takes place at Headingley on 7 October.

If the winners are ineligible for or opt against promotion they get �100,000 while Salford escape relegation.

Castleford take on Widnes in the semi-finals on 20 September, before which Halifax and Sheffield meet in the elimination semi-final on 16 September for the right to face Whitehaven in the other semi-final.

This announcement gives us a great deal of confidence in being awarded one of the licences for 2009-2011 Widnes chief executive Pete Barrow

Haven secured their place in the last four with a 19-6 win over Leigh on Thursday, but despite the result and having guided the team to the Northern Rail Cup final, after the game it was confirmed that head coach Dave Rotheram's contract will not be renewed at the end of the season.

The Rugby Football League's verdict on which teams are eligible to go up follows an extensive process during which clubs had to submit an application including a business plan and show that their ground was up to Super League standard.

Widnes chief executive Pete Barrow said he thought the announcement boosted their bid for a Super League franchise when the League bring in a system of licences from 2009.

"Our submission to the RFL for Super League in 2008 was written in accordance with the guidelines laid down for the licensing applications in 2009," he said.

"This announcement gives us a great deal of confidence in being awarded one of the licences for 2009-2011."