SHEFFIELD stage the first leg of their Knockout Cup clash with Redcar at Owlerton on Thursday (7.30).

Tigers were boosted by a much needed 48-42 home league win over Workington last week and dug deep in the latter stages of the fixture.

The side’s character impressed boss Simon Stead who now wants them to hit the ground running from the off against the Bears.

Said Stead: “I was pleased with the way the boys responded after the interval against Workington and we were able to churn out a win when we weren’t at our best.

“So I feel we can take some positives from that and just getting that first league win was a big boost for the team.

“Redcar provide us with a different sort of challenge but we won’t be taking them lightly.

“We want to take as big a lead as we possibly can into Friday’s second leg at their place and we want to ideally hit them hard from the very first heat.”

SHEFFIELD: Kyle Howarth, Todd Kurtz, Jan Graversen, Lasse Bjerre, Charles Wright, Jack Smith, James Shanes.

REDCAR: Ben Barker, Tobias Busch R/R, Jonas B Andersen, Matej Kus, Thomas Jorgensen, Mikkel B Andersen, Jordan Stewart.