Heworth will hope city rivals York Acorn can do them a favour on Saturday in the battle for promotion from National Conference League division two.

For while Heworth entertain lowly Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks looking to get back to winning ways, Acorn will entertain Castleford Panthers, who are level on points with the Villagers and Milford Marlins in the race for the second promotion place.

Heworth have dropped to fourth after suffering a fifth defeat in six games last week, but a victory over Hawks (kick-off 2.30pm) coupled with an Acorn triumph (kick-off 2pm) will see them move back to second, above Milford who are taking on leaders Wath Brow in the Challenge Cup.

They have been rocked by the news that second-row Jason Kane will be out for eight weeks after breaking a shoulder blade in last week's defeat to Milford, while prop Russ McCardle (hamstring) is also out. But Kenny Embleton (suspension), Richard Darling, Mark Green (both unavailability) and Liam Cochrane ('flu) all return to bolster the squad.

Steve Barnard, whose shoulder injury has coincided with Heworth's bad run, is also expected back after Christmas, having returned to training.

Player-coach Brendan Carlyle said: "Losing Jason Kane is a big blow as he's been playing really well, but that's what seems to have been happening to us recently.

"However, although there are two more (players) out, four have come back. We've got to get back on the winning track as our aim has got to be promotion. The good thing is we've got the big teams out of the way now and they've got to play each other again, and if they start dropping a few points we can stay in there.

"Hillsborough had a good win at Huddersfield last week and they might be looking at us thinking we're on a slippery slope but we've played some really tough sides recently and have been under-powered. We're very keen to get back on track."

Acorn go into their game with renewed confidence after some good displays and they hope a run of home games will see them rise up the standings.

The club have lost a number of players to the professional game and injuries, while captain Lee Frank completes a four-match ban, but a number of new recruits to the first team have shown up well, including former Yorkshire Juniors tourist Dean Kilbride at hooker.

Ex-York Wasps prop Mick Hagan has also improved with every game since his return to the club.

"Our performances in the last few weeks suggest that if we put the same commitment in, then the blending in of new players won't take long," said spokesman Paul Lumby.

Third-placed New Earswick All Blacks visit Sharlston Rovers 'A' looking to maintain their own promotion push in Yorkshire League division one.

However, coach Simon Baynes will have to make a number of changes, with Jez Petch and Jamie Daniel both unavailable and Alan Pallister missing for a second week due to a neck injury sustained in a car crash.

Pete Nowell, Steve Sullivan, Matt Withers and Phil Turpin all return to the squad, who will take on a side two places below them in the table.

York Acorn 'A', who had to concede their match last week due to call-ups to the first team, have a tough home YL division two clash against high-flying Normanton 'A', while Heworth 'A' visit lowly East Leeds 'A' in division three. Selby Warriors have no fixtures until the new year.

York Groves should be at full strength for their Pennine League division four derby at home to Wetherby Bulldogs. The Terriers welcome back Rich Pollock after he missed last week as they look to end a poor run.

Unless the Terriers are handed a rearranged fixture next week, this will be their last game of 2002, and player-coach Simon Baynes said: "Hopefully we can finish the year with a win. We've been struggling with injuries and illness recently but everyone is coming back together and we've had good attendances at training."

Updated: 12:30 Thursday, December 12, 2002