YORK Cricket Club face an immense task tomorrow when they take on old rivals Harrogate in a big North Yorkshire derby at St George's Road.

While York will be trying to bounce back from successive league defeats last weekend, Harrogate are on the crest of a wave that has taken them into a title-challenging position. They share second place jointly with Doncaster, who were tipped off the top by Sheffield United.

York welcome back skipper Nigel Durham and experienced seamer Greg How, but lose the services of Aussie all-rounder Nash Stone through injury.

Durham's return is a straight swap for capable deputy John McGrady, but Ed Senneck, who was drafted in last week, has earned a top level run.

Had Stone been available, Durham might have been forced to choose between young pace man Richard Gilbert and teenage leg-spinner Tom Pringle. Both are being nursed carefully, but will feel the full force of exposure at Harrogate.

York will need to smarten their fielding. It was particularly sloppy against the Yorkshire Academy last Saturday.

For their part, Harrogate name the same XI that collected maximum points last weekend. There is a consistency in their selection this year, which has paid considerable dividends.

But skipper Mike Stanford said: "It's the half-way stage this weekend and there's a long way to go yet."

He is quietly pleased that his overseas man Khaled Hussain has settled into the league scene to complement the quality seam pair of Dave Pennett and Dave Crowther. New signing Alexis Twigg, a former York player, has added a new dimension to the batting in an opening pair tie-up with John Inglis. Peter Hepworth has found his best form, Andrew Siddall has secured a regular stop order spot and Chris Kippax's return to first team duty has added a valuable leg-spin dimension.

Scarborough only seem to prosper when any two from skipper Darren Harland, Nick Tubbs and Clint Heron make runs.

Their bowling attack is relatively weak and they will find Barnsley no pushover at North Marine Road tomorrow.

Elsewhere in the league, there could be a lot of runs in the seaside match between Cleethorpes and Sheffield United. Doncaster should win at Appleby Frodingham and Sheffield Collegiate can hardly expect to come away empty handed from a visit to bottom club Driffield. Much revived Castleford should win at Hull.

What promised to be a tremendous National Club KO group final encounter between Harrogate and Hanging Heaton on Sunday has been dashed the by apparent intransigence of the Bradford League.

Hanging Heaton are obliged to play their Priestley Cup quarter-final under threat of severe sanction, and Harrogate, with a fixture pile-up of their own, were unwilling to move from the ECB's specified date.

Hanging Heaton had little option but to concede, which they did last night, and Harrogate get a last 16 place to play at home to either Wallasey or Bootle.

Sheffield Collegiate, national champions in 2000, stake their claim for a last 16 slot when they entertain Caythorpe from Nottinghamshire at Abbeydale Park (1.00 p.m.)

Also on Sunday, Castleford play host to Doncaster in the Yorkshire League Cup.

Three York players, Simon Mason, Stephen Piercy and Tom Pringle have been selected for the Yorkshire League's White Rose Trophy semi-final against the Bradford League at Keighley on July 14.

Updated: 12:16 Friday, June 28, 2002