NEW Earswick All Blacks press officer Simon Malarkey has stoked up the friendly fires ahead of tomorrow's challenge match at White Rose Avenue.

The clash (kick off 2.30pm) will see the current All Blacks team take on a past-masters side as part of the club's 20th anniversary celebrations.

And Malarkey, who turned out for the first-team a couple of times last season but will be playing for the old boys tomorrow, said: "We will have the toughest front row, with Mark Hinchcliffe, Alex Davis and Paddy Bradford, that the club have ever had.

"The current boys won't be able to handle it."

The past-masters side is also set to feature Gary and Paul Atkins, Steve Ripley and Paul Barnes among others, and will be coached by Mark Benson and Dave Rippon, with the former having previously raised the stakes by saying he expects his side's experience to see them through.

The clash, which will be played for the Danny Rippon Trophy, will take place before the anniversary dinner at the Meridian Hotel, York, in the evening, which will double-up as the club's presentation night.

The guest speaker for the dinner, for which nearly 200 tickets have been bought, will be Super League referee Steve Ganson.

Updated: 10:16 Friday, June 27, 2003