YORK Cricket Club faces its toughest Yorkshire ECB Premier League weekend of the season with visits to Scarborough and Sheffield Collegiate.

Both clubs have had their problems this campaign but now appear to be on full throttle.

Scarborough's South African Rik Arendse has joined captain Darren Harland in a runfest in recent weeks while the seasiders have found a promising teenage off-spinner in Josh Rewcroft so the York batsmen will need to be on their mettle.

Collegiate's injury and unavailability problems appear to be over. The South Yorkshire club has won the League Championship more than any other side in recent years so a close contest can be expected.

They are two tough trips so York will do well if they can substantially maintain their current 15 points advantage over second-placed Harrogate.

The Clifton Parkers hope to have Nick Thornicroft released from Essex duties but, with three players with county attachments, late re-assignments can never be ruled out so York will be hoping for the best now that Rob Flack is on the injury list for a few weeks.

Updated: 11:15 Friday, July 15, 2005