KEIGHLEY COUGARS boss Craig Lingard is not worried about a long journey to the capital for their next fixture, but is all too aware of the possible travel woes that could be served up.

The Cougars take on eighth-placed London Skolars on Saturday, with the feel-good factor very much alive after two wins on the bounce - the latest seeing them bag a bumper Coral Challenge Cup tie at home to Bradford Bulls thanks to a 28-14 win over Cumbrian amateurs Distington.

Lingard’s men face a journey of just over four hours to get to the New River Stadium in the capital, making this their second longest trip in League One.

But the Cougars boss said it’s part and parcel of the division now.

He added: “I think in League One, there’s been a hell of a lot of travel over the years, going down to places like Coventry, Gloucester, and either Barrow, Whitehaven, Workington and also South Wales.

“I think the guys who have played in League One for a few years should be pretty used to that.

“It’s not too much of a concern for us and it’s about how we plan that journey and how we prepare and make sure that we have a stop and we get down there in plenty time to make sure the boys can have a stretch and prepare well enough.

“I know last year we went down to London towards the end of the season and we had guys that were stuck on the motorway and didn’t get there until half an hour before the kick-off.

“Obviously we don’t want to have a repeat of that, but we can’t control what goes on on the roads and you can only plan for setting off so early.”

Lingard is expecting a test against what he describes as a big, physical Skolars side.

He said: “They’re pretty much the same team from last year, so they’ll be fairly comfortable with how each other plays.

“So we’ve got to be expecting that challenge, certainly down the middle of the park with some of their big guys that are going to come running at us.”

A trip to London Skolars also provides a poignant reminder of four years ago, when Cougars player Danny Jones died after a cardiac arrest during the match in May 2015.

Since then, Cougars have dedicated the number six on the squad list in memory of Jones.

Current players James Feather, Josh Lynam and Matt Bailey were all squad members at the time when Jones collapsed on the pitch and Lingard said the emotion of the occasion might be something to take into consideration.

He added: “It might impact on these guys and it’s going to be an emotional event for everybody else concerned with Keighley.

“So it’s certainly something that we have to maybe take into account and try and harness that emotion for the guys that were involved.”