Oldham coach Tony Benson is unconcerned by his side’s losing tag in Grand Finals – and reckons the Roughyeds’ longer break will bolster their chances in Sunday’s Championship One showdown against York City Knights.

Three successive finals defeats against Keighley, Doncaster and Featherstone suggest Oldham are the nearly men of Championship One.

But Benson’s men, who finished runners-up to Hunslet in the table, are clear favourites to succeed this time against a Knights side they beat in the qualifying semi-final ten days ago.

He said: “I was buoyed by our achievements last year. We lost a number of our players before the play-offs started but still managed to get to the final despite finishing fifth.

“There are only five or six of the lads who played in the narrow defeat to Keighley.

“There is a real buzz about Oldham this time around and our loyal supporters firmly believe this is the year especially given our strong league form.

“That said we will not be complacent or over-confident. We have a very tough test on our hands but I believe we are far better prepared and better placed to achieve our objective of promotion.”

Benson is gearing his side up for a tough physical fight at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium, but believes their extra week to prepare – they went straight through after the qualifying semi-final, whereas the Knights had to beat Blackpool in a Huntington Stadium battle last Sunday – will benefit his players.

“We’ve had three hard, bruising matches against York this season and they are a big side with the flexibility to respond to certain game situations,” said Benson.

“They are well led around the park by Chris Thorman and clearly we need to be aware of his threat.

“I believe we’ve a game that can do a job on them but every match between the sides this season has been close.

“After beating them in the play-offs it was important to have an extra week to recharge our batteries mentally and physically.

“I believe we’ve used the time off well to prepare for this challenge and can take a good game to Warrington.”