YORK know they will have to stop the rot and quick if they are going to revive their promotion hopes.

Back-to-back defeats against Selby and Pontefract have severely dented the club's ambitions but a victory over Leeds-based Yarnbury would give them a much-needed shot in the arm.

York's cause will not be helped by the loss of influential player-coach Pete Curtis, who is unavailable due to work commitments.

With a number of other selection problems, York have selected a squad of 20 players for their match at Yarnbury with the final decision to be made just before kick-off.

The surprise problem that York have is who should replace Mike Ford at full-back. Ford, who has been the club's regular No 15 and goal-kicker for the past year, has decided that he only wishes to be considered for the stand-off berth and, as such, has been selected in the third team.

In normal circumstances Tom Copeland would be the natural replacement. However, as this will be his first game back after a hamstring injury, the selectors have delayed the decision on whether to play him.

The selectors' problems have been compounded further by the doubts about Sean Bass's fitness, after the experienced centre failed to finish the last two matches because of a niggling calf injury.

The one other injury concern is at prop where Simon Humphries is doubtful because of a mouth injury suffered in last Saturday's match. If unfit his likely replacement is Nick Hare.

Elsewhere in the pack, Curtis will be replaced in the second row by Dave Spanton with Jeremy Clutton taking over the role of captain.

Selby will wait to assess their walking wounded ahead of the trip to Old Brodleians.

After a gruelling encounter in the unplayable mud at Sheffield Tigers, in which three players went off injured, Selby's selectors face an anxious wait to see who has come through the clash unscathed.

There are doubts over Ian Copperwheat, Rich Topping and Duncan Phillips, however Andy Bennett, Jim Nicholson and Paul Gabel are all fit to come into the starting line-up.

Selby are still smarting from their 11-5 defeat against Old Brods at Sandhill Lane, when the home side felt they had strong claims for a penalty try.

Pocklington's attempts to bolster their squad for the trip to Northallerton in Yorkshire Two have been scuppered by the county selectors.

Students Matt Webber (Loughborough) and Henry Mitchell (Newcastle) had made themselves available for the Percy Roaders having returned from their studies on their Christmas breaks.

However, the pair have been called into the Yorkshire Under-20s squad, ruling them out of a return to the Pock line-up.

Fortunately, Pocklington do have Andy Wilson and Mark Biggin back in the squad, but prop Mark Floyd is unavailable.

The promotion credentials of Malton and Norton will come under the closest possible scrutiny when they entertain sparring partners Heath.

The two clubs have been neck-and-neck in recent seasons, with Heath matching Malton's Twickenham victory last season, while both enjoyed the highs of promotion to Yorkshire Two.

The corresponding fixtures between them last year saw one win apiece but, with Heath already notching up a victory this time around, Malton will look to re-address the balance at the Gannock.

After last week's battle at Pocklington, Malton will be without the services of props Tom Piercy (neck) and Carl Rushworth (broken nose), but are fortunate to have the services of Tom Eddy and Richard Ellis in reserve backed up by Steve Riddolls. There are no other problems and with the weather set to be fair a good contest is expected.

Having seen his new charges in action for the first time in the narrow defeat against Castleford, new York RI coach Chris Leathley will be better adjusted to the task ahead when he leads his side to Wath tomorrow.

The Railwaymen are hoping the arrival of the experienced Leathley will spark a turnaround in fortunes and, having now spent some more time working with the players, Wath could offer the former Morley chief his first win.

Harrogate will aim to wrap up their home campaign for 2002 with victory over Kendal in National Two.

Updated: 10:36 Friday, December 13, 2002