Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes has warned his players they face a fierce battle in the race for a play-off spot in National League One.

Haven are seventh in the table, one point behind sixth-placed Widnes, and face strugglers Dewsbury on Sunday.

"We're into the running for the top six and we've got to play some teams twice," Stokes told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"Both Sheffield and Dewsbury will be hard for us at home and even harder when we go to their place."

He continued: "Then we've got to play teams like Halifax who want to get their own back on us, so it will be interesting."

Stokes is taking the prospect of facing the division's bottom side Dewsbury seriously.

"They're a hard working team, they don't deserve to be where they are and they're fighting for their lives," he said.

"One of the things you have to recognise with Dewsbury is that they are very tough across the field.

"They might lack a bit of subtlety but they'll never die wondering in terms of giving 100%."