Malton and Norton's promotion hopes could lay on the result from the visit of Stocksbridge tomorrow.

Four teams currently share top spot, with Malton, Stocksbridge, Heath and Leeds Corinthians all tied on 26 points.

Heath, having played two games less than most of their rivals, are the favourites to go up, while Leeds Corinthians look the most likely to miss out as they have played one game more and still have to entertain Heath.

This leaves Malton and Stocksbridge as the serious contenders for the second promotion spot - and victory at the Gannock tomorrow will go a long way into deciding who will go up.

There is a chance that three or four teams could go up, depending on the results of the end of season play-offs, but to be sure both sides will want to secure second.

"It is the highlight of our season in many respects," said coach Pat Stephenson. "If we win that will put us a big step towards where we want to be, but if we lose there will be long faces all round.

"Our destiny is very much in our own hands, we now control our fate unlike last season."

Malton suffered a 32-25 defeat to Stocksbridge in the opening game of the season - a match that saw the Gannock side crushed in the forward battle.

There are no major injury doubts for the clash, although Dave Webster (calf) and James MacKay (shoulder) are to be given as much time as possible to recover from their injuries before the team is announced.

Selby entertain east coast rivals Scarborough looking to maintain their scintillating run through 2002.

Having dropped just three points since the turn of the year, the Sandhill Lane club are now chasing down a top-five finish.

Ray Adamson is the only absentee, leaving Richard Selkirk and his coaching team to ponder over whether moving Carl Paterson to full-back and bringing Nick Gregory into the fly-half role or to recall Dave Batty to full-back.

A victory is the order of the day from York coaching duo Andy Gair and Matthew Emmerson.

The Clifton Park club know they need to win as many games as they can in the final weeks if they are to stave off the threat of relegation - starting tomorrow at Sheffield Tigers.

The Tigers, who started the season strongly, have slipped back recently, and are just one place above York.

A win for York would see the two teams exchange places with the visitors moving to sixth from bottom.

York's only change in the starting line-up is in the second row where Dave Spanton replaces Chris Dempsey, who moves to the bench alongside Emmerson, who returns after a knee ligament injury.

Pocklington will welcome back Sam Allen to the centres for the trip to promotion-chasing Old Brodleians.

Allen, who missed Saturday's defeat by Pontefract, comes into the back line with Dan Clappison moving to his preferred position of fly-half as Kevin Bowling has a suspected groin tear.

Meanwhile, skipper Mark Floyd hopes to return to prop.

Leodiensians are the next target for a resurgent York RI in Yorkshire Two.

Having enjoyed back-to-back victories over fellow strugglers Hemsworth and Castleford, the Railwaymen could continue to claw their way up the standings with a victory over Leos.

The Leeds-based outfit are just two points ahead of RI, but they have played one game, so victory is vital for the New Lane club.

New life has been breathed into the promotion hopes of Harrogate ahead of their trip to already-relegated Waterloo.

With rumours rife about an extension to the Zurich Premiership, four teams from National Two could be promoted and Harrogate are perfectly poised, three points clear in fourth.

Coach Ralph Zoing has made just one change for the clash, with hooker Mark Erven promoted from the bench to replace Iain Salkeld, who drops to the bench.

Updated: 11:53 Friday, March 15, 2002