OVER the years the name of Chorley Lynx has become a rugby league by-word for constant failure.

That has all been changed in a season by coach Darren Abram who goes into next week preparing his side for the club's biggest match for years as they take on Sheffield Eagles in the National League Division Two play-offs.

The Lynx finished second in the table, though level on points with divisional winners Sheffield, which is a stunning achievement given that over recent years the major aim of the Victory Park club was to ensure they were not the wooden-spoonists.

Abram, a former Chorley player, arrived last summer after Graeme West's decision to leave the club and, having cut his teeth in coaching with another of his former clubs Leigh, he has set about starting a revolution in terms of Chorley's aspirations.

"Obviously when I took the job we had no players under contract, so I had to assemble a squad," explained Abram.

"We have had a lot of players through the door this year and, for various reasons, we have lost a few along the way.

"Bringing in players in numbers can pose problems, but the boys who have stayed have gelled well since November and we have enjoyed success on the back of that.

"But I set the standards high. There was no way I was having the Chorley side being viewed as a laughing stock in rugby league circles.

"My philosophy has always been that a team should have targets and fight to achieve them, we knew where we wanted to finish up and we played in the right manner to get there."

The Lynx now enter the crazy world of rugby league play-offs where they will endeavour to win the games necessary to gain a top flight place.

The most simple route is to beat Sheffield at the Don Valley Stadium a week tomorrow (kick-off 8pm) to book their place in the Division Two Grand Final, which to be played at Widnes on October 5.

If they do that then they can sit and wait to see who emerges as the other finalist and then win that game to gain promotion.

However, should they fail to beat Sheffield, who they have already notched two wins over in the league, they live to fight again and can book their place in Widnes by beating the side which emerges from the other play-off matches - one from Keighley, Barrow, York or Hunslet.

And even Grand Final defeat does not signal the end of the road as they will then face a play-off against the side who lose the Division One relegation play-off.

But Abram obviously wants to do the job in the neatest way possible.

"I would be greatly disappointed if we do not find a way into the first division," said Abram.

"We know we can get up because we have beaten the teams who stand in our way.

"But in the play-offs is it all about how we perform on the day and if the players believe they can do it then we can achieve our goal.

"People will point to the fact that we have beaten Sheffield twice, but play-off rugby can be a different game - we start from scratch again on Sunday.

"We have done well this season, but also we have not won anything yet.

"The winner gets to the final and the loser has a second bite of the cherry, but we cannot think in terms of 'what if', all we can do is prepare the best we can and have our players totally focused on the game-plan to beat Sheffield."

Abram knows that should his side step up then the work will start again on preparing a squad that can compete in the first division.

But having already achieved one revolution in putting Chorley in the frame for promotion Abram will no doubt be relishing the thought of having an even bigger challenge for himself, his player and the club next season.

"Obviously if we do play in the first division next season we will need some more players in," he said.

"It's a higher level and more will be asked of the squad and we will need extra bodies.

"But it is something we are working towards week in and week out.

"Obviously on the technical side we have put emphasis on our training regimes and over this last season we have lost some players who have found that regime wasn't for them.

"But it is all about setting standards.

"We don't guarantee anyone in the squad a jersey and any player who is able and willing to learn has a chance of playing in our side.

"We have some very good young players and some older heads to help them through, but everyone knows what is required of them."

But one Lynx player will have the spotlight firmly on him in the play-offs.

Three-quarter Eric Andrews goes into the play-off series having scored tries in his last 15 consecutive matches and a milestone awaits.

A touchdown against Sheffield and then in whatever match follows for the Lynx will see him match a record set by another winger Eric Harris back in the 1930s.

Australian Harris, who played for Leeds for nine seasons, earned the nickname the Toowoomba Ghost in his time in the English game - but Andrews is just two tries away from exorcising that particular benchmark.