AS SUPER League’s top eight battle it out for a place in the play-offs, the teams below them take part in what will be an entertaining and intriguing stage of the new-look competition.

The Qualifiers section of the Super 8s consists of the clubs who finished in the bottom four of Super League’s 12 team regular season and the top four from The Championship (the second division).

The Qualifiers could even outdo their Super League counterpart when it comes to the interest they attract, as there are potential upsets in each round, as semi-pro and professional sides mix.

The ultimate upset would be if a Championship side earned promotion to the top division next season, either by finishing in the top three or coming out on top in the aptly named Million Pound Game, which will be contested between the sides who finish fourth and fifth in the table.

Leigh Centurions almost provided an upset in the first round, going in at half-time with a 24-6 lead against Hull KR. Many are tipping Leigh to be the side who push the Super League clubs all the way. But they were unable to hold on in the second half as they tired and Rovers came back into the game.

This could turn out to be a theme of The Qualifiers, as the top division sides’ extra fitness comes into play.

Rovers went on to win the game 36-26, as they came into their own in the second half thanks to a good team performance led by captain Tyrone McCarthy.

Elsewhere, Salford defeated Wakefield by 34 points to 26 in an all Super League clash. And an all-Championship affair between Bradford and Sheffield Eagles finished 42-10 in favour of the Bulls.

Perhaps the strangest game of the weekend took place at The Shay in Halifax, as the home side welcomed Widnes Vikings.

In terms of regular season league positions, it was 9th in Super League versus 4th in The Championship, the biggest league difference in The Qualifiers.

The score was 0-0 at half-time and, risking a mention of the association game, a quick glimpse at the scoreline might suggest it was a football match.

Widnes pulled themselves together in the second half, just about, and wound up 14-0 winners thanks to two tries from Charly Runciman on his debut.

However, the game was a hint of things to come in The Qualifiers, even though it might always be a case of second half dominance from the Super League sides.