Come 4.30 on Sunday, opinions on the Buddies National Cup will be brutally split. Those qualifying for the knockout stages will be thinking it's not all that bad and there will be some meaningful, competitive games that generate revenue and a decent chance of getting walloped by Huddersfield in the final. Those that fail to make the cut will think it's been a huge waste of time and effort - a Captain Morgan Trophy for the 21st century.
And Hornets sit on the cusp of joining the latter party.

Once your chances of qualifying for anything are out of your own hands, you should prepare yourself for failure. And having spectacularly failed to secure qualification via their own efforts, Hornets progress lies in the hands of Sheffield Eagles who - regardless of how many dozen points we push through a Hunslet side that must have thought this competition pointless from day one - must eke a narrow win over Featherstone Rovers. If only Fev didn't need a good win to qualify too, there might be a scintilla of a chance.

So Hornets queue for last orders in the Last Chance Saloon. Hunslet arrive at Spotland this Sunday without a win in this competition and probably very keen to see the back of it. But they'll also see it as a last chance to take something from it. It was at South Leeds stadium at the beginning of the season where the fragilities that have haunted Hornets' season thus far were exposed by a Hawks side big on enthusiasm.

At the time, coach Roy Sampson said, "... there won't be many teams push Rochdale as close as we did this year." - and we really hoped he'd be right. But what looked like an early season glitch has become the pattern by which Hally's side has failed to knit. Indeed, Martin's reaction after the miserable defeat at Batley showed that his patience is wearing thin too.

The return of Latham Tawhai, Damian Ball, and skipper Matt Calland might bolster the side, but it's the team spirit that's been most severely bruised this season. Let's hope that's ready to make a comeback in time for the resumption of the NFP.

Which leaves us with Sunday. Dead rubber or last chance to stake a claim? Either way, we always say that whenever players pull on the shirt they should give 100% - and wheresoever 13 players don the red, white and blue our part of the deal is to turn up and give them our support.
So be there on Sunday.