Cusack keen for Carnegie to take chance to give Yorkshire an elite-level presence

MORE than a decade ago, Michael Cusack played against some of Europe’s finest in the Heineken Cup for Yorkshire Carnegie’s previous incarnation.

However, he believes tomorrow’s Championship final first leg against London Irish is now just as important for the club.

The Scotland prop is intent on helping Carnegie finally return to the top flight after a sixyear absence.

But the visitors are overwhelming favourites.

“This is right up there with those European games,” he said.

“The club hasn’t been in the Premiership for a long while.

“Yorkshire as a county should have a club in the Premiership and this is a massive opportunity.

“Hopefully we can end up where we believe we should be. But it will be a massive challenge and we know we are going to have to put two of our best performances of the season together.”

Irish lost just once in the league – away at Jersey – after relegation from the Premiership last season.

Doncaster-born Cusack, 32, added: “It is important to still be in the tie after Wednesday night.

“We don’t want to play too much and end up gifting lots of points away.

“We always go out believing we can win, but if things don’t go to plan we need to be in touching distance to make sure we can turn things around in the second leg next Wednesday.”