Nothing can be taken for granted in Saturday's big rugby league derby match against Heworth according to York Acorn boss Dave Kay.

With Acorn third and Heworth third bottom of the National Conference Division Two table, the paper pundits may point to a repeat of Acorn's 48-4 thrashing in October.

But with Heworth kicking off the calendar year on the back of three straight wins and several other key games taking place at the top of the table - not to mention the small issue of local bragging rights - Kay will be wholeheartedly committing his players to the cause.

He said: "It's a common phrase but league positions will be going out of the window. People will be expecting us to win because of our league standing but there are two other matches this weekend involving Waterhead and Ince Rose Bridge that could be potential banana-skins and that adds extra emphasis on us to win.

"So we will be going out all guns blazing to get the result."

The two big omissions from Acorn's derby line-up will be former Heworth and York Wasps second rower Carl Barrow, and prop Paul Payne, both of whom are serving suspensions for the next few weeks.

Aside from one or two niggles, which are expected to clear up in time, Kay is looking at a fairly healthy squad which he is hoping will have benefited from two heavy training sessions during the festive period.

Heworth also have a full complement at their disposal and are champing at the bit to return to action following the three-week Yuletide lay-off.

Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes said: "Usually, the league form doesn't really come into it anyway, but we have actually won our last two league games on the trot and won a cup match so we finished 2004 with three victories.

"We are hoping that we can start 2005 in the same way.

"We know it's going to be tough because they have got a great defence and they beat us heavily before but we would like to try and make amends and give them a much tougher match this time."

The game will be the first in three weeks for both teams and spectators, with a sizeable gate expected to roar the two sides on to success in the first game of 2005 with the derby element adding a touch of spice.

But, as Sykes added, this time both teams are gunning for more than just pride.

He said: "We managed to climb out of the bottom two after our last win against Saddleworth so we are not in the relegation zone as it stands at the moment and we don't want to go back there.

"There would be no better way in which to get more points on the board and stay out than to win at Acorn."

Updated: 08:39 Thursday, January 06, 2005