YORK skipper Jeremy Clutton has shaken off his knee injury in time to lead his side in their opening Yorkshire League division one home game of the season against Sheffield Tigers.

He missed last Saturday's club victory at West Leeds but is back as the battle for points begins in earnest.

New-look York will include several fresh recruits in their line-up including Lee Denham, who is assisting coach Andy Gair, at No 8, while in the backs stand-off Mike Ford and winger Ben Green will be making their debuts for the Clifton Park side.

Ford's half-back partner will be James Arkle, whose brother, Sam, will play in the centre.

Both Arkles are products of the club's burgeoning youth system and another to come through the ranks, Brad Macdonald, has returned to the club after a spell with Harrogate.

York, who have struggled badly in recent seasons, have looked sharp in recent warm-up matches amd believe they can bring the glory days back to Clifton Park.

Pocklington also start with a home game, Old Brodleians being the visitors to Percy Road.

New coach John Ainslie, the former York player, is included in the squad.

Selby, like Pocklington and York, are also in Yorkshire One this season and tomorrow they take the road east to promoted Scarborough.

In Yorkshire Two, York RI head to Leodiensians full of confidence on the back of their big win at Wetherby last Saturday.

Malton and Norton kick-off their campaign at Stocksbridge, where Richard John takes his place in the centre after returning to the club from spells at Clifton and Rushden.

Buoyed by their first ever success at Newbury, Harrogate make just one change for the home game with relegated Waterloo.

RAF lock Paul Clarke has a back injury which will keep him out for at least a fortnight, so Tim Fforde get a rare outing in the second row alongside Harrogate's other RAF forward Peter Taylor.

The alternative would have been to move John Dudley from the blind side flank but the back row functioned well as a unit at Newbury and there is a reluctance to split it up.

Coach Ralph Zoing said: "We are looking to carry on the good work. What pleased me most last week was our attitude and the way we kept to our game plan on staying on our feet and looking for spaces."

Updated: 11:56 Friday, September 07, 2001