SWORDS will drawn as York and Pocklington RU sides go head-to-head in their first-ever Yorkshire One league meeting at Clifton Park, kick-off 3pm.

Pride and much-needed Yorkshire One points will be at stake, while both teams having a lot to prove after winning only one league game each this season.

York hope to put last week's disappointing exit from the NPI Cup at Leodiensians behind them, while Pock' go into the clash fresh after a week's rest.

The match will see a number of old acquaintances renewed with Pock' trio Kevin Bowling, Andy Kirby and Carl Stannard previously turning out for York, while Brad MacDonald and Adam Spenceley have moved in the other direction.

Another personal reunion will see Pock's Rob Nolan line-up against York's Lee Deakin, with the pair formerly team-mates with Hull FC at the Boulevard.

York coach Andy Gair knows he will need to say little to prepare his side for the clash, despite having not seen his local rivals play this season.

"We are less aware of how Pocklington play, but that is less of a concern for me," he said. "The players don't need anything extra to fire them up, the fact it is a derby match is enough.

"I've nothing but expectations of a win - I know we can do it, the players know they can do it, but now they need to prove they can do it."

York keep faith with the pack that performed so well against Leos, but they make a key change at fly-half.

Craig Ventress has gained his reward for a series of good performances in the second team by being called up in place of Mike Ford who moves to the bench.

Sean Bass's unavailability has relieved the selectors of a difficult choice at centre with Stuart Davies moving back alongside Damon Smith. Tom Copeland returns from injury to replace Davies at full-back.

Pocklington will be without prop George Mangalo, who is back in Scotland for the weekend, so the pack is reshuffled with lock Stewart Rowley joining the squad.

Both home games for Pocklington Panthers and Merovingians against York are scheduled to start at 1.30pm due to the Six Nations international.

Selby make the long trip to North Ribblesdale boosted by their 77-0 victory over Burnage.

The Sandhill Lane club have suffered an indifferent start to their league campaign, but things finally fell into place for them against the unlucky Lancastrians.

"The boys will be boosted by the win at Burnage," said team manager Richard Besley. "It highlighted the difference in standards in some of the leagues in different counties, but it was good to see the boys scoring tries freely and their moves coming off."

Despite this win, Besley knows it will not be easy away at North Ribb'.

"They've probably had as bad a start as us, so it will be a fairly level encounter," he said. "Other than Sheffield Tigers, the rest of the sides in the league have been losing matches, but I don't really want to see us losing and getting too far adrift of everyone else."

Skipper Jason Cicero is almost certain to miss the tie with a rib injury.

York RI have a number of injury doubts for their away clash with Huddersfield YMCA Yorkshire Two (kick-off 3pm).

Nick Ward, Erickson Atkins, Steve Forster and Chris Hudson are almost certainly to miss out through injury, while the club are waiting on the fitness of John Alexander.

Team manager Nigel Lowery said: "I think with the way we are playing at the moment, we should do well, but our only problem is the number of injuries with got.

"We've got a reasonable big first team squad, but it is a case of shuffling things about."

Promotion-chasing Malton and Norton will look to cash in on the problems at Halifax Vandals for tomorrow's Yorkshire Three clash.

With Halifax currently rooted to the bottom of the table, having suffered a number of heavy defeats, Malton will aim to add to their woes to improve their own title hopes.

Malton have no injury worries ahead of the clash although Nick Tyson and Andy Newsome are added to the squad which lost at Bridlington in the NPI Cup.

Harrogate skipper Rhys Morgan will take up his more accustomed scrum-half role as his side look to kick-start their season at home to Rosslyn Park.

Morgan has played the last two matches in the centres as cover for Matt Duncombe, but the former Leeds Tykes back returns tomorrow after a hand injury and work commitments.

Having had to move Morgan from his pivotal role at scrum-half for their last two matches, coach Ralph Zoing has swooped to strengthen the cover for his centre positions with Jamie Barker signing from Sandal.

The 24-year-old caught Zoing's eye when Sandal knocked Harrogate out of the Yorkshire Cup last season and he will get a chance t further impress when he lines-up for the Georgians at Doncaster.

The only other change for Harrogate comes in the pack, with Rob Wilson replacing namesake Scott Wilson at prop.

Updated: 08:16 Friday, October 19, 2001