THE PREMIER League Championship-deciding Play-Offs get underway for the Somerset Rebels this week, with back to back matches against the Redcar Bears on Thursday October 3 and Friday October 4.

The first leg will take place in the North East before the side's reconvene at the Oaktree Arena the following evening.

With Newcastle, the other team in Somerset's group, having already suffered a heavy loss at Redcar, Rebels team manager Garry May knows that a good result in Thursday's match will help their ambitions of making the Grand Final no end.

He said: “It is all about what we can do in our two matches away from home, whilst taking maximum points in our two home matches.

“With Newcastle already having suffered defeat at Redcar, any points we can pick up in Thursday's away match against the Bears will give us a bit of an advantage over the other two sides, but then we must ensure that we pick up all three match points the following night when Redcar come to the Oaktree Arena.

“We saw in our recent home matches against Edinburgh and Rye House that it a great boost for the boys when the fans turn up in good numbers to support the team and hopefully it'll be the same again on Friday for the visit of Redcar.”