Following a rest week in the Rugby League Conference Fixture List, Durham Tigers now face the start of the play-off phase tomorrow with a home game against Bridlington Bulls.

Having finished second in their debut season in the RLC North East Division, Durham Tigers now enter the play-offs for the Harry Jepson Trophy. The play-offs consist of a group stage, with the group winners plus best runners up going on to contest the semifinals. Group fixtures were decided by league position at the end of the regular season.

Durham's opponents tomorrow, the team that ended the Tigers' league campaign with an away defeat. "We beat the Bulls at home in the league," commented the Tigers' player-coach Rob Jones. "Away at their place we only really started playing in the second half. If we play for 80 minutes we can beat them, and that would give us a chance." Jones hopes to be able to have almost all his squad available on Saturday, with himself and Houston pairing up in the half back positions and aiming to link with a speedy three quarter line. The Tigers certainly do not lack pace, but with such a young team one problem area ha been an occasional lack of presence in the pack. However, that could be solved on Saturday if the likes of Barron, Ruddick and Camiss are all available, offering Jones the luxury of two big props to start.

With many youngsters in the Durham squad it has been a terrific achievement to reach the Trophy play-offs but the prospect of achieving still more doesn't daunt the Tigers' coaching team. However the Tigers remain in the same play-off groups as Teesside Steelers, reigning Trophy holders, this year's North East Champions and unbeaten in two years of RLC competition.

"If we beat Bridlington then it probably comes down to our games against the Northern division runners-up, Chester Wolves," commented club chairman Phil Selby.

Fixtures: Tomorrow - Trophy: Durham Tigers v Bridlington Bulls; Rotherham Giants v Teesside Steelers. Shield: Newcastle Knights v Sunderland City.

Saturday August 3 - Trophy: Bridlington Bulls v Manchester Knights; Teesside Steelers v Durham Tigers. Shield: Derby City v Newcastle Knights; Sunderland City v Crewe Wolves. Saturday August 10 -

Trophy: Bridlington Bulls v Teesside Steelers; Durham Tigers v Chester Wolves. Shield: Sunderland City v Newcastle Knights. More fixtures on Saturday August 17.