NEW Earswick All Blacks will welcome back captain Jez Petch for their penultimate away game of the season at Emley Moor.

Skipper Petch returns after missing All Blacks' GMB Union National Cup fifth round 68-18 defeat against Leigh Miners Rangers because of his brother's stag celebrations.

Jamie Daniel is also back in the squad after serving a four-match suspension and Sean Bewley is available after missing out against Leigh - one of the favourites for the GMB Cup - because of work commitments.

But Steve Perks will be out because of a knee problem and goal-kicker Dave Carling is also unavailable.

All Blacks travel to Emley knowing that victories in each of their last five Pennine League matches will secure their objective of landing the division two championship.

And, after their recent cup heroics, coach Simon Baynes hopes the players will now be fully focused on their main target for the season.

He said: "The cup has given us a lot of exposure and reaching the last 16 was a major achievement but we are back to the league now which we set out to win back at the start of the season.

"Emley is an important game and we know that if we win our last five matches we will be champions so that is what we must concentrate on now."

Pennine League division four high-fliers York Acorn 'A' travel to Illingworth 'A', while York Groves host Bank Top Harriers in division five.

Updated: 10:09 Thursday, March 31, 2005