YORK Cricket Club face a stiff examination of their title credentials as they hit the road for a double header this weekend.

They head to Castleford tomorrow where they will come up against former York all-rounder Greg How, and the following day take on Yorkshire Academy at Headingley.

Castleford have had a good run recently with ten wins from their last 11 games and lie third in the table. If they keep winning they have an outside chance of the Yorkshire League title.

Skipper Andrew Bourke is back in the form that earned him the league record for total runs in a season. They will also have spinner David Wainwright, who was in the Yorkshire squad for the Somerset match this week.

How, who switched from York to Cas earlier in the season, is relishing the battle against his old team-mates.

"We are really going well at the moment. It has been a real team effort but it will certainly be a different experience for me," he said.

After the Academy's victory over Harrogate last Sunday, York enjoy a seven-point lead of the St George's Road side with a match in hand. The Academy can be an awkward side as they often play senior players for practice.

For both matches, York will be at full strength with leg spinner Mark Bell returning for Jonny Bairstow. York will be looking for good totals as big-hitting Simon Mason continued his good recent batting form with a Minor Counties century for Lincolnshire this week.

Updated: 11:45 Friday, August 12, 2005