KEIGHLEY are set to give youth its fling as they return to league action on Saturday at Goole.

The Rose Cottage side have suffered two straight relegations, so director of rugby Graeme Sheffield does not want to put his young team under any undue pressure as they bid to consolidate in Yorkshire Division Two.

He explained: “Of the team that took us up, we will only have four, or maybe six at the most, players.

“We have no Marco Ferrazzano, who could be back next month from his broken jaw, Ben Blackwell, Leigh Sugden, Ollie Sugden, Harry Titley, Danny McGee or Paul Sinfield, but we are all really looking forward to the season.

“We had six players who were under 20 last Saturday, so we will have youth and exuberance, but I am not going to say that we will be promoted, although if that happens then fine.”

One experienced face is set to return at scrum half, though he is unavailable this week.

Sheffield said: “Adam Balderstone has come out of retirement to help us out at half back – Ollie Mitchell has injured a knee – and certainly seemed to enjoy himself in the half that he played last Saturday at home to Kirkby Lonsdale in a friendly.

"They are a Level Six club while we are a Level Eight club, and they only won 24-21 with the last play of the game against what was a mixed first and second team."

Keighley are also taking a second team to face Goole's second team in a friendly but there will be no games at home due to the refurbishment of the club, which started on Monday and is due to be completed next Thursday.

KEIGHLEY TEAMS FOR SATURDAY

1st XV v GOOLE (Yorkshire Two) AWAY KO 3pm, meet noon (coach): From: N Curr, N Jordan, D Smith, S Booker, L Daniel, L Sokee, S Minikin, J Hannah, A Horsfall, L Everett, S Everett, C Spencer, W Armitage, Jack Atkinson, L Chick, S Blakeley, T Lowther, E Barker.

2nd XV v GOOLE II (friendly) AWAY KO 3pm, meet noon (coach): From: N Holroyd, J Hill, P Salmon, M Hagyard, C McDowell, A Tattersall-Jarvis, L Carter, B Atkinson; C Morris, D Pullen, M Symes, I Buckley, N Berry, R Lacey, L Kemp, James Atkinson, R Clarke.