A desire for glory days is burning brightly for rejuvenated prop forward Lea Tichener.

The long-serving York Rugby League Club warrior has revelled in his most consistent spell of form during the club's rise to the top of the Second Division.

Tichener believes the current batch of Wasps players stand on the threshold of the club's first major success in almost 20 years.

The front rower was in typically bullish mood as he contemplated tonight's first versus second tussle with Bramley at Headingley.

"We realise how important a win is today. I think everything is going our way. Confidence is up. We know what we are capable of doing at home and away now," said Tichener, a former Bramley trialist.

"We will have Barrie McDermott to contend with and our forwards are capable of doing that. York always raise their game to better teams or better players and one of our problems in the past was not taking sides as seriously as we should.

"But we know Bramley are a top side and have got top players, which can only bring our game up. We know our defence is rock solid. We have to put our attack on show tonight and put points on the board. I think what you will see is two very equal sides."

The Wasps have forced their way to the top of the league with a run of five consecutive victories and the scale of the achievement is not lost on 27-year-old Tichener.

"It is a great feeling. It is the first time that I have ever been on top of the division. It is nice to be there and even nicer still to stay there," said the prop.

"But it is no good being top half-way through the season, you have got to be top at the end of the season. We know if we get beat and other teams win it could be short-lived but our intention is to stay there. Clubs sometimes go ten games undefeated. We have got to keep achieving and not slacken off."

The Headingley clash signals the start of the new White Rose Championship, which counts towards the overall Second Division standings but also culminates in a lucrative Trans-Pennine Cup final.

Leading try scorer Leigh Deakin declared himself unfit with a thigh injury, while 19-year-old Gareth Dobson is restored to the hooker berth in place of Alan Pallister. Jamie Benn, a try scorer last weekend, has been recalled by Castleford Tigers and joins their squad for the trip to Salford on Sunday.

Chief executive Phil Elliott revealed the Wasps' players have been given an added incentive to avenge their first day defeat by the Villagers. Elliott said the board are offering a special one-off win bonus.

The Bramley side will include on loan Leeds Rhinos forward Barrie McDermott. The Great Britain prop joined the Villagers to gain match fitness after receiving a five match ban for his sending off in a pre-season friendly at York.

Winger Leroy Rivett makes his debut after signing on loan from Leeds and also making his debut is Leeds RU loan signing Lee Denham, who hails from the York area.

Match pointers

White Rose Championship(at Headingley, Kick off: 7.45pm)

Bramley: Poynter, Middleton, Potter, Golden, Rivett, D Gibbons, Brown, Denham, Pickles, McDermott, G Freeman, Smith, Eldershaw. Subs: to be announced.

York: Cain, Godfrey, Sini, Austerfield, Hopcutt, Strange, Brook, Booth, Dobson, Tichener, A Hill, Flowers, Darley. Subs: Preston, S Hill, Hargrave, Pallister

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham)

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.