Sheffield Eagles boss Mark Aston says performance more important than result in David v Goliath clash with Toulouse Olympique

The French full-timers are top of the Betfred Championship with a perfect record from their first seven matches, while patched-up Sheffield are only just beginning to find their feet once again after a poor run of form not helped by the absence of several senior players.

Aston has been forced to turn to the club’s youngsters in recent weeks owing to a growing list of injuries and suspensions, with several players handed their debuts. And Sunday will be no different.

"There will be some new faces in again,” he told The Star. “There will be young kids who will be keen to challenge themselves against Super League players.

"They are the best team in the competition, there’s no doubt about that. That’s what excites me, games like this.

“With how they are playing, they will take some stopping. If I’m honest, they are on top of their game.”

The priority for Sheffield will "definitely” be to build on some improved performances in recent weeks, Aston said.

“We got a result against Oldham that was much needed to build a bit of confidence, last week we were good and there was a sense of recovery,” he added.

"I was disappointed because I thought we could have got the result [against Widnes].

"We need to see a performance, we need to carry on the forward momentum and keep getting our confidence back because just around the corner there’s two big games coming up against Dewsbury and Swinton.”

The Eagles have certainly not given up hope of pulling of an upset, however, with a plan to break the game down into 10-minute periods.

At the forefront of their mind this week has been their 44-16 demolition of Toul ouse back in 2019 in a game which featured several players who will line up against the league favourites on Sunday in Wakefield.

“We took them to the cleaners,” Aston recalled.

"That was probably the best performance of the year for me, it just shows you what can happen in sport.

"It’s been tough but we are working hard and when you work hard things start going your way.”