ILKLEY could have some key personnel back as they head into the uncharted waters of National League Three North on Saturday.

The Dalesmen are at home to Sheffield Tigers, who are one of the fancied horses in the division, and Ilkley's head coach Rhys Morgan says: "We hope to have Nick Carolan, JH Johnson, Stevie Graham and Jon Hutchinson available but Will Davies is out.

"He played No 8 against Huddersfield YMCA last weekend but picked up a knock to the head, so we are observing the protocol regarding that sort of injury, although a few years ago he would probably have been playing this weekend."

Ilkley warmed up for Saturday's stiff test with a 49-13 home victory over Huddersfield YMCA in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup, with tries from Paul Petchey (3), Elliot Morgan (2), Nathan Jones and Joe Rowntree.

However, just how much of a pointer this convincing victory was for this weekend, and indeed the rest of the season, is debatable, according to Morgan.

He said: "We had players out and they had players out, although YMCA had some players that I recognised, such as their fly half, centre and ball-carrying No 8, who we managed to get hold of.

"It was hard to gauge the relevance of the match in terms of the future but what really pleased me was how our patterns and structures are getting better.

"For one of the tries we had 26 phases, and it is really pleasing when you can do something like that."

As for Tigers, Morgan said: "They finished third last season and will be one of the favourites to go up this season but it should be remembered that, although we have been promoted for two seasons in a row, we don't tend to start a campaign well.

"It could be October before we really start to play, and it is not unusual for us to lose two of our first four or three of our first five matches, although there has been pressure on us to win every game in Yorkshire One and North One East in what have been very tight seasons.

"This season will be a good test for myself, player-coach Stevie Graham and former skipper Stuart Vincent, who is helping us out on the sidelines."