PLAYING a side who have won all of their last 10 games, Malvern director of rugby Andy Longley concedes his side face a tough task at Sheffield Tigers tomorrow (ko 3pm).

Malvern also have an unwelcome extension to their season after the National Three Midlands clash at Hereford was rearranged for Saturday, May 7, after being postponed last Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch.

After their trip to South Yorkshire, the Spring Lane side have three more games to play this month, including a home North Midlands Cup quarter-final clash with Whitchurch on April 23.

Loose-head prop Dominic Murphy has left Malvern and will be replaced for tomorrow’s clash by Jamie Tsang.

Dominic’s brother Andy will be unavailable for the trip to Sheffield with Matt Humphries coming in at hooker.

Longley said: “Sheffield will want to beat us as they want to get closer to the top. They have a big pool of players to pick from.

“We have made so much progress this year. The club are getting the basics right.

“Sheffield have won 10 in-a-row and if they win their games in hand they will be top of the league. They are a very competitive side. It’s going to be a tough game for us.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t slip up now before the end of the year. We’ve got to put in some good performances and get some good results.

“With the Hereford game taking place in May, it means the season is going on a bit longer than we would want.”

Tomorrow’s Malvern teams.

First team v Sheffield Tigers (tomorrow, away - ko 3pm), travelling by bus, meet at Spring Lane at 10am, Ketch Hotel, Worcester at 10.15am, from: J Tsang, M Humphreys, J Clark, D Smith, M Williams, R Gratwohl, C Edwards, P Rawle (c), T Longley, A Dixon, N Miller, R Fleming, M Jones, J Aston, T Hughes, A Almond, N Murphy, J Southall.

Third team: Venue and opponents to be advised directly.