WINLESS Pocklington have been buoyed by the return of former Northumberland Under-21 star Huw Rees as they prepare to entertain Beverley tomorrow, kick-off 3pm.
Former Pock' junior Rees, who has moved back to the York area after spells with Newcastle University and Northern, comes straight into the second row for the clash.
Pock', who crashed to a third straight Yorkshire One defeat against Scarborough on Saturday, have also beefed up their pack with the return of three key men.
Darren Smith, Carl Stannard and Denzil Styche are all available after missing the 32-0 reverse against the North Yorkshire outfit.
Andy Mair is also back in the side, replacing Phil Holland, who has been ruled out with a reoccurrence of his knee trouble.
Selby will look to pick up where they left off against York when they entertain Horsforth-based outfit Yarnbury.
Selby shocked rivals York with a hard-fought 13-3 victory and now they are out to build on this.
Having suffered at the hands of Selby, York have regrouped to prepare for their trip to Old Brodleians.
"We've had very much of a roller-coaster season, with Selby being one of the lower points," said Andy Gair.
"As soon as the players came off the pitch they knew they had let themselves down.
"There is very little that we've had to say about it."
Gair knows things are unlikely to get any easier against Old Brods, but he remains confident his side can pick themselves up for match.
"It is not going to be easy, they've a strong pack and a notorious slopping pitch," he added.
Full-back Tom Copeland (groin) and lock Matt Halifax (knee and ankle) both face late fitness tests, while prop Andy Smith is promoted from the seconds as cover.
There will be a clash of Harrogate old boys when York Railway Institute take on unbeaten Yorkshire Two leaders Dinnington.
The York RI side has a number of former 'Gate players in their ranks - including player-coach Ian Hassall, Tim Barley, Alex Pride and Matthew Yates.
But Dinnington have their own ex-Claro Roader, with Mark Pinder, who propped for the National Two giants last season, now coaching at the South Yorkshire outfit.
York RI will be without winger Matthew Maddigan, with Sam Harland stepping up from the bench to fill in.
Tim Nash also has an injury to his elbow, and although he is expected to shake it off in time to play, no final decision on the team is expected until today.
Malton and Norton will be at full strength as they look to bring an end to Heath's unbeaten run in Yorkshire Three.
David Cooke has left the club to spend a year in Australia, but club stalwart Dave Knaggs steps in to take his place for the top-of-the-table clash.
Young three-quarter Rob Tate also gets his first taste of first team squad action, although he is almost certain to start on the bench.
Harrogate have bought in the son of a former England international as they look to upset the run of big-spending title-favourites Sedgley Park.
Lundy Shackleton, the 21-year-old son of former international back Roger, has been handed the scrum-half shirt for the trip across the Pennines after a number of impressive performances at scrum-half for the Georgians.
Shackleton has benched for the first XV already this season, but he now gets his chance as Ralph Zoing reshuffles his backs.
Regular scrum-half Rhys Morgan moves to outside centre, while fly-half Lee Cholewa also returns to the side after missing the 15-3 defeat by New Brighton in the RFU Senior Cup.
Coach Ralph Zoing has no fears about giving Shacklton his chance.
"I have no worries about Lundy coming in," he said. "This is a big game for us and if I had any doubts over Lundy I wouldn't play him."
'Gate know they will have to be at their best if they beat a Sedgley Park side who have recruited well as they look to continue there rise up the rankings.
Former Wales fly-half Colin Stephens, a one-time Harrogate transfer target, has been Sedgley's key player, while the Lancashire club have also recruited the likes of ex-Romanian international Christian Radicioiu.
Updated: 11:56 Friday, October 05, 2001
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