YORK Acorn ARLC will become victim of their players' success this weekend - just when they didn't need it.

The National Conference division one fixture schedule has already hampered the Blue and Golds - they were out of action last weekend when they would have preferred to stay on a roll having returned to winning ways seven days earlier - and this Saturday they have to face their toughest task so far this term, away to Rochdale Mayfield, without two of their best players.

Andy Gargan and James Morrow have been selected to play for Yorkshire in the British Amateur Rugby League Association County Championship clash against Roses rivals Lancashire at Blackbrook on Sunday, and these players are not allowed to turn out for their club sides 24 hours earlier.

Ironically, Acorn boss Alfie Hill is also Yorkshire's head coach and has to wear both hats.

"It's an awful thing is success," he joked. "It would be nice to have them available for Acorn but you're not allowed. It would jeopardise their (amateur) Yorkshire and Great Britain chances.

"You want the lads to do well and, while it sometimes means the club have to do without them for a week, it's satisfying as a coach to see the lads get representative honours."

Gargan is already in the BARLA Great Britain team and Morrow the GB Students set-up. Hill reckoned both had a chance of being selected for the BARLA GB tour to South Africa in the summer.

"They're both playing very consistently. Players for the South Africa tour will be picked during this County Championship and I think both have a good chance of being in there. Andy's already in the set-up and James will put himself in the shop window but already has good experience from GB Students.

"Their club form is good and they deserve this chance."

Hill, wearing his Acorn hat, said the Blue and Golds faced their biggest test this season, against a side with seven wins from seven games - the only unbeaten record throughout the National Conference.

"Mayfield seem to be knocking over everyone in front of them," he said. "They're unbeaten up to now, and in their last two home games they scored 54 and 48 points."

Perhaps surprisingly, Mayfield have no players in Lancashire's 20-man squad for Sunday.

"We're a bit more depleted and realistically it would go down as a shock if we win," said Hill.

"But that's what life's about, going in there, performing and getting shock wins."