YORK RUFC head to the North East on Saturday for what many believe could already be a title decider.
It may still only be November but the trip to Percy Park will undoubtedly go a long way to deciding who finishes top dog in Powergen Durham and Northumberland Division One.
Unbeaten Park have dropped just one league point this season while second-placed York warmed up for the big clash with a crushing 70-0 win over bottom club Hartlepool at Clifton Park last Saturday.
With home advantage, Park will start as favourites tomorrow, but if York get enough possession and are able to spread the ball wide then dangerous backs like Sean Bass and Rob Kama, who has recovered from a groin strain, could conjure a famous victory.
Skipper Nick Kay, whose side have only lost one game - 9-6 at Consett - said: "We are led to believe Percy Park have a good back line and a big set of forwards, so it will be tough."
Malton and Norton make one change to their line-up to face Hartlepool Rovers at The Gannock in North East Two.
Carl Muscroft will move from prop to hooker with James Machin taking over the propping berth.
There will also be a change on the bench where skipper Chris Creber will fill one of the positions, and hopefully make his comeback at some stage after a four-week lay-off with a hamstring injury.
Rovers have not been having a good time of late and Malton, still smarting after last week's heavy defeat against Westoe, will be out to inflict further pain to cement their position in the top four.
Selby make four changes to the side beaten 21-19 by Old Crossleyans last week for the trip to unbeaten Yorkshire One leaders Beverley.
Chris McDonald returns at full-back after his bout of flu. With Chris Topping suffering from a hamstring pull and Martin Protheroe unavailable, Paul Scott returns to the side on the wing after a five-week absence.
Paul Gabel starts at prop with Ian Copperwheat substituting on the bench. Mark Rollinson starts in the second row in place of the unavailable Mathew Mills.
Paul Randell makes his return to the squad with a place on the bench. The other substitute will be Under-19 Academy winger John Readshaw.
Pocklington are back in league action with one of their close rivals in Yorkshire Two, West Park Bramhope.
It is their second meeting at Percy Road in two weeks - they endured a nailbiting cup encounter a fortnight ago which Pocklington edged 12-10.
Pocklington are without several players through injury and unavailability, but on the plus side winger Tim Nixon and centre Harry Allen return after missing last week, and experienced prop Perry Hardy hopes to be back after recovering from a shoulder problem.
York RI have recruited former Morley centre Martin Dobson and he will be on the bench when Railway travel to Skipton in Yorkshire Three.
Harrogate, who are flirting with the National Two relegation zone, travel to Grassington to tackle North Yorkshire rivals Wharefedale.
Updated: 10:21 Friday, November 19, 2004
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