New Earswick All Blacks face a potential banana skin in the second round of the National Cup on Saturday.

The York-based side, struggling in National Conference League division two, were drawn at home to Birkenshaw, who are staking a claim for the Pennine League premier division title.

And while the NCL is generally a higher standard, the Pennine League features teams who can hold their own at that level.

All Blacks spokesman Eddie Loftus said: "Birkenshaw are an unknown quantity but are riding high in their division and there are some good sides in that league.

"All the best amateur teams are not necessarily in the NCL. Some really good teams might not have the facilities to get into the Conference League, and Birkenshaw might be one of them."

The All Blacks, who have made it to the third round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup where they will play professional outfit Swinton next week, will no doubt hope to take that knockout form into this competition.

However, Loftus was wary that the players needed to be focused on the job at hand. "Possibly our minds were on the Swinton game last week when we lost in the league (44-6 at home to Crosfields)," he said.

"It's understandable but we need to be more focused. We aren't going to win the National Cup but it would be good to get into the winning habit."

Loose forward Lee McTigue is not available due to work commitments and second row John Leech is still suspended, but prop Rich Harrison returns after missing last week defeat because of work.

City rivals Heworth also prioritise their NCL campaign above the National Cup, where they have a difficult trip to Leigh East to contend with on Saturday.

The Lancashire side are gunning for promotion from division one, while the Elm Park Way club - National Cup finalists in 1987, losing 15-8 to Thatto Heath - are not far off the drop zone in the same table.

"It will be a tough one," said Heworth spokesman Ken Sykes. "They're playing very well at the moment and are up near the top of the division."

Leigh won at Heworth earlier in the season and the two teams clash again in the league in a fortnight's time, a week after Heworth's Challenge Cup tie at Batley.

"The most important thing for us is the league. We always enter the National Cup and try to do our best, but it's a fair old slog to get to the final," said Sykes.

Wayne Forster is struggling with a knee injury and Dan Briggs has a calf strain, both picked up in last week's 32-8 defeat by Eccles.

York Acorn are also on their travels in the competition, with a tricky tie at Yorkshire Premier League side Pudsey.

With the departure last week of Darren Crake to York Wasps, following in the footsteps of Gareth Lloyd, plus the injury to Michael Embleton, Acorn are likely to field an octet of youngsters as they bid to end a seven-game losing streak.

Nicky Caldwell, Johnny Waldron, Danny Liddell, Stephen Waldron, Steven Irving, Alan Willitts, Andy Lee and Shaun Gilmoor are all under 22 but have been given the chance to gain experience and develop.

Pudsey could cause an upset against the NCL division two side, who have a poor record in cup competitions, but it is also an opportunity for the visitors to boost confidence in the youthful ranks.

The National Cup, sponsored by rugby league newspaper League Express in a five-figure package, has seen 117 clubs enter, only six of whom were involved in the opening round.

There, York Groves, who don't have a game this weekend, lost to Headingley West, who now play Hull-based Norland in round two.

Cup holders Skirlaugh and last year's runners-up Ideal Isberg, both of whom play in NCL premier division, are among 14 teams exempt until round three.

Meanwhile, York Acorn 'A' look to make it three wins in a row in the Yorkshire League division four on Saturday when they entertain Allerton Bywater (kick off 2pm).

A key area to their chances will be their exciting young half-back pair of stand-off Craig Fox and former Yorkshire Youth tourist Dean Kilbride. Their pace and guile has given their attack the ideal platform from which full-back Paul Sawyer, prop Dave Murray and the ever-improving Alex Cowton have revelled.

Updated: 12:06 Thursday, January 18, 2001