YORK Acorn and Heworth are set to continue their battle for supremacy in the National Conference League division two this weekend.

With rugby league in York generally enjoying something of an upswing at the moment, the cross-city rivals both have 100 per cent records going into the fifth week of the season.

And both clubs will expect to maintain their blistering starts as they face the bottom two teams in the division.

Acorn, who occupy top spot on points difference, travel to Cougar Park, home of Keighley Cougars, looking to make it five wins out of five against bottom club Keighley Albion.

They will start as favourites against their out-of-sorts hosts, although last week's struggle away to another team near the bottom, Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks, proves that any complacency can easily be punished.

Spokesman Paul Lumby said: "The game plan will be to keep the defence tight and have patience and width in attack, a philosophy which has so far served us well with most of our points coming around the midway stage of the second half after the defence has strangled the life out of our opponent's attack."

The Blue and Golds have a number of players facing late fitness tests as the rigours of their efforts in the first four games begin to take their toll.

Knocks from last week mean second rower Alex Benn (calf) and prop Nicky Caldwell (shin/ankle) along with second rower Kenny Embleton (hamstring), who missed the last game, all face late checks.

Both stand-off Darren Callaghan (knee) and utility player Stephen Waldron (knee) picked up minor knocks last week, but are almost certain to be available after coming through Tuesday's rigorous training session with no ill effects.

Heworth, meanwhile, entertain the Hawks, who, like Albion, are without a win this campaign.

They lost 26-0 to Acorn last week and the Villagers will be looking to maintain York's stranglehold over the South Yorkshire side.

Spokesman Ken Sykes said: "We didn't play particularly well last week (in the 20-18 win over Cas Panthers) and we know we can't afford any complacency this week."

Jason Gatus is a doubt after suffering a recurrence of a shoulder injury, but Dan Briggs returns after playing in England Students' successful Student Europa Cup campaign in Tartastan.

New Earswick All Blacks will be unable to end their duck this season as their trip to Moorlands, who are also still searching for their first points of the Yorkshire League senior division campaign, has been called off due to a wedding.

Like their first team, York Acorn 'A' boast a 100 per cent record, having registered three straight wins in the Yorkshire League third division, but face their toughest test so far when they travel to joint leaders Hunslet Old Boys (KO 2.30pm).

Mid-table Selby Warriors will hope to take the form of last week's shock Yorkshire Cup win over higher ranked All Blacks into their division three campaign, starting with Saturday's game at Shaw Cross.

In division four, Heworth 'A' visit Stanningley 'A', while in Pennine League division four York Groves travel to Hoyland Vikings.

Updated: 11:37 Thursday, September 20, 2001