KENDAL will be ready to pounce should Kirkby Lonsdale fail to get over the line in their bid for the play-offs.

While their neighbours are now firm favourites to seal second place in North One West, Kendal director of rugby Steve Whitehead insists his side are in no mood to give up the fight.

"It's out of our hands now but if mathematically we still have a chance then we will battle to the very end," said Whitehead. "Kirkby are in the driving seat and they are favourites to win their last two games but funny things can happen in sport. We have to be in a position to take advantage."

Whitehead says defeat at Kirkby Lonsdale in their play-off showdown two weeks ago is not the reason why they look likely to miss out, highlighting losses earlier in the campaign.

But with a home game against Eccles and a trip to champions Birkenhead Park to come, Whitehead said he does not want to rue any more missed opportunities.

"We were soundly beaten in two games and gave away victories in two more," he said. "That is the reason why we are in the position we are in now

"We have been left to rue those defeats so we don't want to rue anymore especially if Kirkby were to slip up."

Whitehead says his players remain in upbeat mood and he will have one eye on what is happening up the road in Carlisle.

"The first thing is that we have concentrate on what we are doing but obviously we will be hoping Carlisle can do us a favour," he said.

"Carlisle is not an easy place to go and they are something of a bogey team for Kirkby.

"But that is out of our hands and something we should not worry about. All we can do is prepare as best we can for the Eccles game. But it would be great to go in to the last game of the season at Birkenhead still in with a shout.

"We are a proud bunch at Kendal and we will want to end the season on a positive note no matter what happens elsewhere."