ILKLEY coach Rhys Morgan knows that his squad will not be at their strongest for Saturday's first-round Yorkshire Cup tie at home to Huddersfield YMCA.

But he is not about to use that as an excuse against opponents who are not only foes this season in National League Three North but were also the last side to lower Ilkley's colours at Stacks Field two years and 28 matches ago.

Morgan said: "We know that we are not quite at our strongest due to holidays and cricketing commitments but we are more than capable.

"There are no excuses and it is a chance for players to step up, as Will Coates, who was still in the side at Christmas, and James Colclough did last season."

YMCA, who beat Ilkley 31-29 at Laund Hill on September 1, 2012 and 34-24 at Stacks Field on April 20, 2013, when they were both in Yorkshire One, have been promoted twice via the play-offs in the past three seasons.

They won 33-12 at home to Guisborough in the Yorkshire One-Durham & Northumberland One play-off at the end of that 2012-13 season and 29-19 at Birkenhead Park at the climax of the 2013-14 campaign in the North One East-North One West decider.

While Ilkley were winning North One East last season, YMCA were finishing eighth in their maiden National League Three North campaign, and Morgan said: "We expect them to have some big ball-carrying forwards with some rugby league influence but we lost three of our first five matches last season in the Yorkshire Cup and the league."

The winners will be at home to fellow National League Three North side Hull on Saturday, November 28.

Ilkley played their final warm-up match last Saturday at home to Bridgnorth and won 19-12, with tries coming from Elliot Morgan, Nick Carolan and Pete Small, Joe Rowntree landing two conversions.

Morgan said: "Pete's interception try with about six minutes left won it for us but it was a difficult game for me as a coach, trying to give 34 lads an opportunity while not disrupting our plans too much.

"I had to watch the video back to find out what had gone on because I was so caught up in swapping experienced players for experienced players and trying to make sure that some of our under-17 players didn't get hurt."