ILKLEY are hoping to put their National Three campaign on a firm footing at Burnage on Saturday.

After weeks of battling out in the mud the artificial pitch of their Manchester opponents should put a spring in their step.

Burnage are currently propping up the table and third-from-bottom Ilkley will be looking at this as a key game in their bid to pull clear of the relegation zone.

"I understand the pitch is quite narrow, but the lads are looking forward to playing on a firm surface again," said head of rugby Rhys Morgan.

The Dalesmen suffered another setback during the Christmas break with the departure of prop Tom Baxter to Huddersfield, but Morgan says his squad are in good heart.

"The lads have been working hard in training on the areas we have identified for improvement, the line-out and our finishing. They have cost us in a number of games so we have put the emphasis on getting them right."

There are a couple of selection issues for Ilkley with skipper Josh Kimber ruled out with a hand injury while lock James Spencer and winger Paul Petchey are away skiing.

The versatile Ed Brown looks set to fill Kimber's role at stand off while Nick Carolan's return will compensate for the loss of Spencer and former Old Otliensians winger Declan Jackson should make his first start.

Kirk Arundale, part of the Ilkley team which played in the National Intermediate Cup final at Twickenham in 2012, is in contention for a place on the bench.