YORK RUFC belatedly get their season underway on Saturday with several new faces in their line-up.

Three recruits are expected to make their debut at home to Horden - hooker James Nuttall and wingers Chris McDonald and Nick Taylor - with other newcomers waiting in the wings.

While the rest of the North East Two clubs started last week, Andy Gair's men were left kicking their heels as scheduled opponents Hull were on cup duty.

That means they can ill afford to lose at Clifton Park tomorrow or they could already be well off the pace of the leading clubs.

Gair watched Horden get their campaign off to a flying start with a 25-18 win over Northern.

"Tomorrow promises to be a tough match. Horden are very strong physically and are clever at changing positions. I think the key to how we do in this league will be our home performances," said Gair, whose side won promotion from Yorkshire One last season.

During the summer the squad has been bolstered by fresh talent and three of them will be on show at Clifton Park tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

Tight head prop Nuttall, a former professional with Worcester, was originally with Leeds Tykes Under-21s and has linked up with York through the club's new forwards' coach, Paul Matthews, who knows of Nuttall from his days on the Leeds coaching staff.

"In this day and age specialist props are like gold-dust, so he is a welcome addition," said Gair.

Another Leeds Tykes forward, Gareth Dodds, could also be linking up with York at the end of this month with a view to forming a new-look front row with Nuttall and hooker John Sharp. New Zealander Sharp, a former Saracens Academy player, played for York in the second half of last season, and is due to return to the club in the next couple of weeks after playing for Mid Canterbury in his homeland.

Speedster Rob Kama should also be back after he finishes his rugby league season with high-flying York City Knights.

In the meantime, York have snapped up former Scotland Under-19 player McDonald and Nick Taylor, who has a wealth of experience with clubs in and around the Midlands.

Taylor can play in a variety of positions in the backs and his versatility will come in useful..

McDonald, a Harrogate teacher, played at Ayr last season and can play in a variety of back positions.

Back for his third stint at York is centre Nathan McBride, who played with Driffield last season. He has just started a two-year course at York College of Law, but is not quite at peak fitness yet and occupies a place on the bench tomorrow.

James Arkle gets the nod at scrum-half over Russell Venter, the former Harrogate No 9. With Nigel Durham also to come in to the frame once his duties as York Cricket Club's captain are completed this weekend, then York will have plenty of competition for places at the base of the scrum.

"I think now we have more strength in depth throughout the squad and it is going to be quite a job keeping everyone happy," said Gair, who has plenty of experience on the bench tomorrow in the shape of McBride, Matt Halifax and Dave Dorking.

The powerful Venter, a former North of England scrum-half, who possesses a superb pass, plays for York 'A' at Scarborough tomorrow.

Updated: 11:38 Friday, September 12, 2003