MALTON and Norton RUFC can forget their league troubles for a day when they host division rivals Pontefract in the fifth round of the EDF Senior Vase tomorrow.
Following their heartbreaking play-off loss in Durham and Northumberland One last year, Malt have found it hard adapting to life back in Yorkshire One.
Thanks to a glut of injuries, they've have endured one of their worst campaigns in recent years but last week's 18-7 win over Bridlington was arguably their best display of the season.
That will give them great heart going into The Gannock clash, despite having to meet a Pontefract side who are perched at the league's summit and have lost just three times in 14 outings.
When the two sides last met in the second week of the season, Malt lost 36-10 and they know they'll have to step up a gear if they are to progress in this competition, which hits the national stages in the next round.
But with skipper Chris Creber controlling the game from fly-half, along with scrum-half Andrew Newsome, and Pontefract's recent 19-0 loss at Keighley, club chiefs at The Gannock are still optimistic of an East Yorkshire triumph.
For Malton, centre Steve Mosey is out with a shoulder injury and Tom Pateman takes over, while in the forwards Ed Gwillam returns at prop after being unavailable last week. Steve Pease moves onto the bench. Andy Mitchell also returns in the back row.
Yorkshire Two leaders Selby were humbled last time out in a surprise 15-11 defeat at Ripon. They'll need to make sure they're on their game when they entertain North Ribblesdale at Sandhill Lane.
Ribblesdale have already beaten York this year in the EDF Senior Vase and will look to further clip Selby's wings. A poor performance at York RI and defeat to Ripon in the past two weeks hasn't got anyone at Selby panicking yet, but this is the Sandhill Laners' first blip in an otherwise near faultless campaign.
A loss to Ribblesdale at home could throw the division race open once again but Selby are still confident of getting back to winning ways - despite having to line up without influential kicker Dan Porter.
Elsewhere in the XV, second row Jason Cicero returns to the side as does centre, and captain, Andy Bennett, who will resume his midfield partnership with the explosive Shaun Austerfield.
York, Pocklington and York RI are without first team games tomorrow.
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