Playmaker Mike Cacchia will be an absentee when Ilkley take on Scarborough at Stacks Field on Saturday.

It’s a big blow for the Dalesmen as Cachia has been one of their outstanding performers in Yorkshire One season.

With centre JH Johnson also unavailable, the Ilkley selectors will have to give careful consideration to the composition of their midfield.

Fit again Craig Barker could switch from centre to take over from Cacchia at stand off and that might open the way for new-boy Matt Maskell to make his debut at centre.

The former Worcester Warriors Academy product has been training with the Dalesmen and could be paired with Steve Nolson who has also recovered from injury.

Coach Rhys Morgan said: “We will be weighing up our options and deciding what is the best way to go.

“It is inevitable for an amateur club that you have times when players have other commitments. It is something we have to cope with.

“However, it does provide the opportunity to give other players a chance to show what they can do.”

After the snow of the past two weeks, Ilkley have been prevented from training outside this week by the rain.

“We have been working on a few things in the gym,” said Morgan. “There are couple of tactical things and new set plays we have been working on, but we really need to be doing the work outdoors.”