McBride return

The centre, in his third spell with York, played at Kelleythorpe last season but returned to the city where he is at the York College of Law.

McBride, who made a big impression during his previous stints at Clifton Park, plays in the centre in place of Sam Arkle, who cut his chin during last Saturday's win against Horden.

That is one of a number of changes York have made for the Intermediate Cup first round clash.

After impressing the coaching staff in training and pre-season matches, Craig Ventress is being given a chance in the No10 shirt, exchanging places with Ben Quick, who plays in the second team.

The final change on the wing is the return of club stalwart Rob Liddle in place of Nick Taylor who is unavailable.

In the continuing absence of James Arkle through illness, Russell Venter retains his place at scrum half, being given a further opportunity to convince the selectors that he should be first choice.

The notable absentee in the pack is skipper Pete Curtis who, having taken a few heavy knocks on the hard ground last Saturday, is rested to the bench. Matt Halifax takes his place. The final change is the replacement of Simon Humphreys, who is unavailable, with veteran prop Andy Smith.

Driffield have had a mixed start to their North One campaign with a win at home against Aspatria in their first match followed by a trouncing 82-29 at Bradford and Bingley. If York can build on last Saturday's promising opening to their league campaign and eliminate errors they have a good chance of creating an upset against a higher-ranked side.

Selby travel to Dinnington without former York RL centre Shaun Austerfield (knee). His place is filled by Toby Pemberton while Hamish Burns has also failed to recover from the head injury suffered at Malton last week. John Webster, who came on as substitute for Burns. retains his place at stand off.

Dave Christison, who also came on as a replacement at The Gannock, keeps his place at flanker in place of Paul Randell, who drops to the bench. Newcomers to the bench will be stalwart Ian Copperwheat and Paul Scott, the ex-Rotherham winger.

Malton and Norton, who drew with Selby last week, face a stern test against Middlesbrough, from North East Two.

Their selection will depend on whether injuries to skipper Chris Creber, winger Liam Cowton and No 8 James Mackay clear up.

Jon Newsome, unavailable last week, will be back to contest the scrum half slot, while front row forward Stephen Piercy comes in to the squad on completion of his duties with York Cricket Club.

Malt will start as underdogs against a side who have opened the campaign with two successive wins following relegation from North East One.

Harrogate make the trip to the Midlands to face Dudley Kingswinford in the second round of the Powergen Cup with the victors to meet Worcester.

York RI were delaying naming their side for the Junior Vase game against Ilkley at New Lane.

Pocklington have a week off from competitive rugby so the action is confined to the Panthers, who are away to Beverley, and the Merovinginans, who play their first game of the season against old adversaries Nestl Rowntree, at Percy Road.

Updated: 11:38 Friday, September 19, 2003