ILKLEY will be hoping to end their season on a high and avenge their biggest defeat of the season when they visit Sheffield Tigers on Saturday.

Their 65-0 mauling on the opening day of their first National League Three North campaign had some of the club's followers to fear the worst.

But subsequent results have seen the Tigers emerge as deserved champions and Ilkley establish themselves firmly in mid-table.

Ilkley's head of rugby admits that many of his team are feeling the effects of a hard season. He said: "There are some lads who are looking forward to a rest. Props Josh Cockerham and Dan Lawrence have been doing 80 minutes every week because we do not have players to come off the bench and replace them.

"Three of our younger players, Will Davies, Pat Power and Elliot Morgan need a break and they will deserve it after Saturday.

"I am hoping we can go to Sheffield and show them we aren't the pushovers we proved to be on the opening day.

"This is a tough league and we have learned a lot since then. I hope that Tigers field their full side against us so that we can see how far we have come.

"They lost last weekend against Billingham and I wonder if, with the title in the bag, they are trying out players for next season."

The Dalesmen are expected to field a largely unchanged team following last Saturday's 32-27 win over Huddersfield YMCA.

Davies is set to return after sitting out that match while the experienced Ollie Renton is unavailable.

"I want us to go out and round off a great season with a big performance," added Morgan. "I am proud of what the players have achieved and they should be too."