YORK RUFC put their season on the line as they face off against promotion rivals Northern in a crucial Durham and Northumberland One match on Saturday.

Following a desperately disappointing 20-19 defeat at Ponteland last time out, York know that only victory will be good enough if they are to keep their play-off hopes alive.

That loss in Newcastle let Northern back into the race, and the two sides meet at Clifton Park tied on 26 points.

York have the second place on points difference, but Northern have a game in hand, meaning only a win will be good enough for York.

The Clifton Parkers welcome captain, and key figure, Andy Kay back into the squad after he was missing last week.

Rob Kama, who scored three tries at Ponteland but still ended up on the losing side, will hope to repeat his hat-trick - but Northern should prove tougher for the speedy winger to break down.

York can go into the game in good heart however, knowing they are looking for the double over Gosforth-based Northern following a 17-13 win in Newcastle in early October.

Pocklington face another big challenge when they welcome unbeaten league leaders Sheffield Tigers to Percy Road.

Tigers recruited heavily this season, and have signed overseas players as well as from Rotherham and Doncaster - their most recent notable capture being former Canada and Rotherham captain Mike Schmit. But Pocklington came close to pulling off a shock win at Sheffield just before Christmas, and while Tigers have been piling up the points at home, they have been less convincing on the road.

Pocklington delay finalising their side until after training at the end of the week, but have Sam Rees and Henry Mitchell both available to add to their three-quarter resources.

Any kind of win will do for Malton and Norton, who will hope to snap a run of three consecutive defeats when they welcome Driffield to The Gannock.

But they won't get an easy ride from a Driffield side who lie in third place in North 2 East. Malton were put to the sword by Horden in a 45-20 defeat last week in another disappointing performance.

Horden had won just three games all season before that game and now Malton must try to rediscover some good form against their East Yorkshire neighbours.

In-form Driffield have won 11 league games this season and, although the top two positions seem beyond them, they will start as favourites.

Malton and Norton will be looking to recreate the performance that saw them take a victory away from Driffield in late September, when they ran out 19-8 winners.

York RI hope to welcome back a few faces for their match-up at home to high-flying Roundhegians in Yorkshire Three.

RI, who been ravaged by

injuries to players in recent weeks, toiled to little avail in a 24-10 defeat away at fellow strugglers Stocksbridge last weekend.

However, Matty Stewart will return to the back row and the experienced Andy Morse comes into the front row, while Nick Humphires will play at open-side flanker.

The last time the two sides met, in Leeds in late September, RI were on the end of 63-0 hiding. Club chiefs will be hoping that home advantage can spur them on to a much needed victory tomorrow.

The New Lane pitch has had a covering of snow most of this week and prospects of the game going ahead will depend on whether overnight frost is severe.

Updated: 11:19 Friday, February 25, 2005