PARK life will be the prime consideration for York Rugby Union Club when they entertain Hartlepool on Saturday.

It's not simply a case of the York ranks enjoying home advantage at their Clifton Park stronghold. For besides trying to maximise their expected superiority of a Hartlepool team languishing in the bottom tier of Durham/Northumberland One, the club's performance will largely dictate how they approach their next away outing when they head deep into Geordie heartland to tackle current leaders Percy Park a week tomorrow.

Said captain Andy Kay: "First and foremost our objective is getting a win over Hartlepool.

"But at the same time the way we have planned for tomorrow's game will have a direct bearing on how we prepare for the clash at Percy Park.

"With us in third place that's the real big game for us, so we want to get a good platform established ahead of that by winning tomorrow."

As evidence of their Percy Park plans, the club have omitted number eight Ian Davies because he is not available for the mighty trip north a week tomorrow.

He will revert to the bench with his number eight slot assumed by skipper Kay. Grant Williams will be on the blind-side with Stu Davies on the open-side.

There is also a change at fly-half, where Nick Andrews has been moved from his normal patrol at inside centre this season.

The centre slots will be occupied by Sean Bass and Sam Arkle, York's most impressive back in last week's Powergen Intermediate Cup exit to Driffield.

Kay ventured that the season so far had gone as expected. "We are where we thought we would be at this stage of the season, but the aim is to get promoted back to North Two East, so a game like tomorrow is one that we have got to win, especially as we look ahead to the big one the week after."

Updated: 08:43 Friday, November 12, 2004