SHEFFIELD Tigers skipper Ricky Ashworth is keen to add the prestigious Jack Young Shield to his trophy cabinet when he leads his side into quarter-final action at Owlerton on Thursday (7.45pm).

Ashworth, who won the Premier League Riders' Championship last weekend, goes into the first leg tie with Rye House Rockets on a high.

And the Sheffield Window Centre-backed side have pulled off a smart move by booking club asset and Owlerton specialist James Birkinshaw as a guest replacement for injured Aussie youngster Hugh Skidmore.

Said Ashworth: "If we're held to a close scoreline then we may have a problem. I still feel we can go there and score well because we're not as bad on the small tracks these days but we could really do with a handy lead to take down there for the return leg on Saturday.

"It's nice to have Birko back in the side although we obviously feel sad for Hugh Skidmore."

Rye House are scrambling for a guest replacement for Linus Sundstrom, the Swede targetted by Sheffield during the winter - and they're also without Robert Mear. Both riders are injured.

TIGERS LINE-UP: Ricky Ashworth, Joel Parsons, Chris Mills, Josh Auty, Richard Hall, Scott Smith, James Birkinshaw.