Nic Corrigan expects resurgent Sheffield Tigers to provide  one of the toughest tests of the season to date on Saturday (3pm).

Director of rugby Corrigan has been delighted with the professionalism  of his side a six-game winning streak and has warned them not to take the fourth-bottom Tigers lightly.

“Sheffield is not going to be an easy game because they have recruited well and they are coming off the back of a good win against Sedgely Park,” said Corrigan.

“It will essentially be a different side to the one we beat earlier in the season. They will be coming here and thinking they have got nothing to lose.”

Inside centre Rhys Hayes will miss the game after being ruled out for two weeks with an injury picked up in the 23-13 win at Preston Grasshoppers.

Chester started strongly and early dominance in the scrum set up the first score on four minutes with Will Nelson putting up an accurate kick for Pete Rees to cross for an unconverted try.

Grasshoppers reduced the deficit with a penalty but Chester hit back with two penalties from the Hayes’ boot.

Preston added another three-pointer before Chester prop Gavin Woods was driven over for a converted try.

Preston enjoyed some good ball early in the second half but were unable to turn pressure into points and it was Chester who scored next with a pushover try on 58 minutes to move 17 points clear.

Grasshoppers refused to give up and crossed for a converted try under the posts on 65 minutes as the visitors defence finally cracked.

Chester controlled the last 10 minutes as they looked for a bonus point try and the visitors came close with a pushover try being ruled out for a knock on but the Hare Lane outfit were unable to find that elusive fourth score.

Corrigan said: “I think it was an efficient performance and it was a performance I was probably happier than the one in the win over Caldy.

“We went to place where it’s very hard to get a win against a team who became increasingly cynical as the game went on.

“The rhythm of the game became somewhat stop-start and the only frustration is that we were worth a bonus point and we didn’t get one.”

Corrigan was pleased to see his side come out firing against Preston after seeing  them start some games slowly and now wants them to produce full 80-minute efforts in the back half of the season.

“It is a bit of a cliché to talk about 80-minute performances but the reality is we have to perform with a mental and physical toughness for the full game,” he said.

“I want us to play more direct and more simple rugby and that is what we are starting to do.

“We have to really focus on the things that are making us the team that we are.

“We have got 13 more opportunities to learn a bit more the league and the teams in it. 

“If we finish in the top-six then I think that is a really good effort for our first season in this league.”