POCKLINGTON will welcome back talented young flanker Carl Stannard for their bottom of the table clash against West Park Bramhope.

The 22-year-old had switched codes to try his hand at the 13-a-side game, playing for York Acorn in the National Conference League division two after a trial with York Wasps.

However, with Acorn's season coming to an end, Stannard has opted to return to his home club for the final push and he will join debutant Ben Rayner in the back row.

With relegation almost a certainty - although nothing will be decided until late May due to divisional play-offs - Pocklington will hope that they can at least pick up a victory tomorrow to finish ahead of fellow strugglers Park.

Unfortunately for Pock, Mark Webber and Sam Allen are both unavailable as they are watching their brothers - Rob and Charlie - represent England U16s at Widnes.

Selby are at full-strength for their trip to Old Brodleians.

The club, who racked up a record score against Pocklington last week, make the trip looking to close the gap on fifth-placed Pontefract - who are two points ahead of the Sandhill Laners, but having played one game more.

And having dropped just three points since the turn of the year, few would bet against them overhauling their East Yorkshire rivals.

The only possible doubt for Selby is former England tourist Ray Adamson, who is expected to lead the club's assault on the York Veterans' Tournament on Sunday.

York visit North Ribblesdale in their penultimate league match of the season, needing a win to almost certainly secure their place in Yorkshire One next year.

However, the task is a difficult one as the Settle team, after a very poor start, have put a string of impressive results together to lift them to one place below York but on the same points and with a game in hand.

York have made three changes from the team that came so close to beating the Yorkshire One champions-elect Hull, last Saturday.

In the second row, Brad Macdonald returns after injury to replace Matt Halifax, while both Sam Arkle and Rob Liddle will be on the bench.

The decision on who will fill the full-back's shirt in Mike Ford's absence will be decided tomorrow morning.

York RI will be gunning for revenge when they travel to Skipton.

The two sides have already met twice this season, with honours shared at one apiece.

However, while the Railwaymen were victorious in the league it is Skipton who won the all-important clash in the RFU Powergen Junior Cup - a result that the New Lane club are still smarting about.

With two Yorkshire Three games left, both at home, and promotion a certainty if both games are won, Malton and Norton will not be taking anything for granted against Otliensians at The Gannock.

There were no fitness doubts after last Saturday's win at Barnsley, but it is hoped that three-quarter Tim Chapman will have recovered form a hamstring injury which kept him out of that clash, giving coach Pat Stephenson a full squad to choose from.

Otliensians have been involved in the promotion chase for much of the season themselves but have fallen behind in recent weeks and are one of only four sides to have beaten Malton this season's league campaign.

Harrogate bring the curtain down on their season in front of their own fans tomorrow when they entertain Stourbridge.

With the club's aim of securing fourth spot already achieved coach Ralph Zoing was set to experiment with his line up for the clash.

However, injury victims Peter Taylor and Jeremy Marr are both ruled out.

Updated: 11:51 Friday, April 12, 2002