YORK Acorn ARLC joint-coach Alfie Hill admits his side's fixture pile-up could hamper their run-in - but he has not ruled out a second successive promotion.

The Blue and Golds, who rose from National Conference division two last season, are presently in mid-table in division one, nine points off third place.

But following controversial abandonments earlier in the season, as well as a memorable Challenge Cup run, they have up to five games in hand on the teams above them.

Victory in those spare games is a tough enough assignment as it is, and gets tougher given the fact they will have to be crammed into a short space of time.

They begin the task away to East Leeds on Saturday, which Hill reckoned was "not an easy place to go".

He said: "All matches are tough, especially when you've got the fixture programme we have. Every game is a big game."

As for their promotion chances, he said: "We are still in it - if we win all nine games we've got left. How realistic that is we will find out but we will take each game as it comes."

Acorn will be boosted by the returns of captain Mike Embleton and prop Lee McTigue, who missed last week's good win at Thatto Heath due to work commitments, and half-back Andy Gargan, who is back from holiday.

But definitely out is youngster Tom Hill, who has torn a calf muscle, while Matt Embleton is a doubt with an arm injury.

One of Heworth's re-election rivals also have several games to catch up on, which could have a say in the final outcome in division two - but the York side want to keep control of their own destiny.

Bottom club Saddleworth have four games in hand, including encounters against some of the clubs just above them, which would see teams take points off each other and could leave Heworth in the mire.

The Villagers lie fourth-bottom and spokesman Ken Sykes reckoned they needed two more points from their three remaining games to be safe from the ignominy of ending in the re-election zone for a third successive season.

"We want to keep it in our own hands," said Sykes. "We reckon we need another two points and we need to target our home games."

Those won't be easy - against mid-table Stanningley and, on Saturday, second-placed Widnes St Maries - but with promotion hopefuls Ovenden still to visit, Heworth are not in a position to pass up matches.

Sykes admitted Saturday's task is tough but did not rule out the chances of a shock.

He said: "They're second, they could still win the title - though they've got a difficult job to overhaul Castleford Panthers - and they've got an excellent chance of promotion.

"But we should not be negative. If we can play like we did against Cas Panthers in our last home game, we would be in with a chance, despite what happened last week (in a big defeat at lowly Egremont)."

Heworth also welcome back key men Wayne Foster and Luke Judson, who missed last week's loss with work commitments, although Nikki Wilson (groin) and full-back Mike Welsh (hamstring) are doubts.

Updated: 11:26 Thursday, March 23, 2006