HEAD coach Alfie Hill has admitted the National Cup is of little concern to York Acorn ARLC and as such will rest several of his big-guns on Saturday.

Acorn travel to Widnes St Marie's for a second round tie in the ACE Europe Insurance-sponsored competition, with Hill using the game to test some fringe players and also blood a couple of under-18s players in Steve Doswell and Dan Walton, who will probably fill the half-back and loose-forward roles.

Hill said they were treating the knockout tournament as "not important at all" when compared to their bid for promotion from National Conference division one. But he reckoned his much-changed team might still turn over the Cheshire side, who lie third from bottom of their tier.

"This is secondary to the league by a long way," said Hill.

"I think they (St Marie's) think they're one of the most unlucky sides in the league. They're down near the bottom but their points-difference is only minus 17, which is not massive, and they won at Eccles & Salford last week.

"We could still win. Our team is capable of winning there but it won't matter a lot if we don't."

Tom Hill and brothers Jonny and Danny Liddell, all pivotal players, will be left out on their return from holiday, while prop Danny Caldwell (neck) and centre Gareth Lloyd (groin) will not risk further damage to their injuries.

Prop Paul Payne, yet to play in the first team this season, is likely to get back in after a few good games for the A' team.

The Blue and Golds will have additional support at Widnes as the Acorn ex-players society have chosen this match as their annual away game trip. The old boys are asked to meet at the Acorn club at 10.30am.

Spokesman Steve Bromwich said: "This is one game where we will be missing two or three key players and the lads could do with the extra support."

Division two side Heworth have no game having been knocked out of the cup, but their A' team host Stanley Ran-gers A' in a Yorkshire League Alliance Cup first round tie. York Acorn A', who might lose a few players to first-team call-ups, host Castleford Lock Lane A' in round two.