Sedgley Tigers face yet another stiff test when they take on table-toppers Barking at Park Lane on Saturday.

But it will not get much more difficult for Rich Senior’s men – hot on the heels of a 41-5 defeat at the hands of Barking’s close rivals London Scottish which followed a 25-9 reverse at Blackheath.

Before that the Tigers had strung together three consecutive wins, but Senior always knew that he would be grateful for anything he could get when his men lined up against the National League One’s elite teams in the most difficult phase of the season.

“We never really expected anything from these games,” admitted Senior in the wake of the London Scottish home reverse, which turned out to be a blue day in more ways than one as they wore blue shirts in support of the male prostate cancer charity.

Senior continued: “We always took the view that if we got something, it would be a bonus. Having said that, I don’t think that 41-5 was a fair reflection of the game.

“There were key moments where we let ourselves down with poor decision making.”

Sedgley’s kicker Steve Nutt is waiting on the outcome of an examination to an injured hand and prop Danny Birchall has a suspect ankle in advance of the Barking clash.