THE top two collide in Yorkshire Three tomorrow when York RI RUFC travel to Heath in a match which could decide the destiny of the title.

The Railwaymen know that victory against the side just a point behind them in the table - and with a game in hand - would give them a valuable cushion as they go into their remaining fixtures.

But it promises to be a ferocious affair, with RI having lost just four times in the campaign, and Heath just three.

RI go into this crucial game boasting almost a full strength XV, with only Karl Hart missing because of work commitments.

It will be South African flanker Justin Hardman's last game for the club before he returns south of the equator and he will be looking to help RI to the verge of promotion with victory against Heath, a match spokesman Nigel Lowery says is the club's biggest of the season.

"We will have to be at our very best," he said.

"They beat us 29-10 on the opening day of the season but we are a better side than we were then. It's going to be difficult but the lads are buoyant."

Malton and Norton will be looking for a resounding win when they take on Ponteland at The Gannock in Durham and Northumberland One.

The North Yorkshire outfit will be looking for revenge after the Tynesiders, currently comfortable in mid-table, beat them 21-15 on the opening day of the season.

With every point vital to the promotion cause, Malton will look to take advantage of their strength in depth.

The replacements bench includes leading scorer Ben Hough as well as Paul Dobson and Karl Shaw.

Relegation is now a real worry for Selby, who travel to meet the rapidly improving Keighley in Yorkshire One.

The Sandhill Laners are perched precariously close to the second relegation spot in tenth place, only two points above Huddersfield YMCA.

More worryingly, Selby rarely perform well at Keighley, and are shorn of key players with Rob Taylor, Ben Aked and Paul Gabel all still injured, and Andy Gabel and Martin Protheroe unavailable.

In the backs, Andy Bennett comes in at centre with Darren Hunter on the wing. In the second row, Jason Cicero returns and partners Rob Triffitt.

Graeme Smith will start at fly-half for the first time as York travel to Goole in Yorkshire One.

James Arkle comes in to take on his scrum-half duties as the Clifton Parkers take a punt on Smith at number ten, who fills in for Carl Paterson who is locked in dispute with his former Italian club.

Phil Littlehales moves to full-back with flanker Stu Davies continuing at centre.

Pocklington face another Yorkshire Two away trip when they go to Ripon. Dan Wilson is out after injuring his ankle, but regular back-rows Scott Littlefair, Steve Wilcock and Matt Davies return after being unavailable last week, while former England under-16 full-back Charlie Allen is home from Bath University to bolster the threequarters.

Updated: 10:24 Friday, March 24, 2006