Sedgley Director of Rugby Tim Fourie looks ahead to Saturday's frendly clash against Fylde at Park Lane.

IF the Tigers are expecting an easy time on Saturday when Fylde descend on Park Lane for the final pre-season warm-up game, then they have another think coming.

“It’s going to be tough,” said the Sedgley Director of Rugby: “Fylde beat Waterloo 24-10 last weekend, so we can expect a thorough workout which, to be honest, is exactly what we need. We have the utmost respect for them and we will be treating it like any other league game.”

Back in contention is backrow/lock Jon Skurr, who has now returned from holiday; Sale Sharks’ scrum-half Chris Leck and hooker Marc Jones, signed on a season’s loan from the Guinness Premiership champions, should be available for their Tigers debuts; and Jonny Roddam looks to have overcome the shoulder knock that kept him out of last Thursday night’s game against a Sharks’ XV.

The only contracted players unavailable are winger Chris Hall, who is still involved in Dewsbury Rams’ rugby League campaign, and centre Jason Duffy, whose successful recovery from a broke ankle and leg continues.

“I will be looking for the guys to show some composure under pressure, as in the previous two friendlies we have struggled to do just that,” continued Fourie: “We also need to start creating try-scoring opportunities and then scoring from them.

“Although I’m generally pleased with what I have seen so far, some of the guys have to start working off the ball and demonstrate better overall team patterns, particularly in the set pieces. We have to put Fylde under pressure and destroy their maul while improving our own.

“I’m looking for a massive improvement from everybody, particularly in attack. Overall I have been pleased with our defensive effort so far, conceding tries more through losing out in one-on-one confrontations rather than our overall defensive patterns failing – but we still have to improve.”