THE rugby league road to Wembley begins on Saturday - with amateur York clubs York Acorn and Heworth eager to avoid a second successive knockout blow.

Both sides slipped on banana skins last weekend as they crashed out of the amateur game's top knockout tournament, the GMB Union National Cup, to teams from supposedly inferior leagues.

This week both are in Carnegie Challenge Cup action - the famous old competition sees amateur clubs kick off the first round - and it gives them a chance to make amends.

Acorn boss Alfie Hill slammed his side's performance against Hunslet Old Boys last week, and is looking for big improvements. However, he recognises they face a difficult task away to Siddal (ko 1.30pm), who play a division above them in them in the National Conference, especially considering injuries to main men.

"Last week was abysmal - it was our worst performance this season.," Hill said. "At least seven players underachieved and I've told them that in no uncertain terms.

"There will be one or two changes but I'm hoping there will be a little bit more pride in the shirt."

Some of those changes are enforced. Player-coach Darren Callaghan (hamstring), captain Mike Embleton (groin) and Danny Caldwell (kidney) are out, while Joe Budd (shoulder) is doubtful and Alan Willitts will play with a broken nose suffered last week.

"There's a few key players in there but at least it might make the others grow up a bit," said Hill.

Siddal are going for a play-offs in the premier division, though they too were shocked in the National Cup, losing to Rochdale Mayfield.

Hill said: "There are probably not many harder ties than this - it's probably the one you'd not pick. Under normal circumstances, if we had a full side out, it would be a good test to see how far we've come, but since Christmas we've been badly out of form.

"We'll look to improve and see what we can salvage."

He added: "I don't want the season to fizzle out. We should still have some life left in us and this is a massive competition - you don't want to be lying down in the Challenge Cup."

Heworth face Hull Isberg (ko 2.30pm) just a few weeks after beating them in NCL division two.

Player-coach Chris Smith (knee) is still out but they are hoping at least two out of Luke Judson (chest), Dan Briggs (groin) and in-form second-row Ian Jones will be back after missing last week.

Club spokesman Ken Sykes said: "We had a weakened side (against Elland) last week - that's not an excuse for losing, but if we'd have had a few more players in we would have edged it.

"This is arguably a more important game. The obvious aim is to get to round three and play one of the pro teams, but we have to beat Isberg first and we expect a tough, close game. We narrowly beat them last time but they were the better team in the first half."