A Cumbrian challenge faces York's two National Conference League clubs on Saturday.

Heworth are likely to have the tougher of the two matches as they visit cup kings Wath Brow, who are favourites to lift the division two title in their first season in the NCL, while York Acorn - still smarting from last week's defeat at Eastmoor Dragons - will be looking to kick-start their campaign with a home win over Millom.

It will be Heworth's first long haul to Wath Brow, who hammered fellow NCL newboys Huddersfield Syngenta 36-6 last week, and player-coach Brendan Carlyle knows it won't be easy.

"It will be one of the hardest games but this year I'm looking for a result every time we play," he said. "We've got good strength in depth and everyone seems pretty fit."

Fit-again Mark Green trained for the first time this week but is not ready for first-team action so Heworth will take a similar squad to the one that beat Normanton by a single point last week.

Carlyle added: "We played quite well last week although we need to speed up the play-the-balls and if we get in front we have to kill teams off better. Saturday's game will be a good indicator for us."

Meanwhile, Acorn will want to get their season on track against Millom and avenge a corresponding defeat last season in what was one of the Blue and Golds' most disappointing displays of the year.

Acorn spokesman Paul Lumby said: "Millom were thrashed last week by Milford, so won't be travelling with any great confidence and, therefore, this should be the ideal fixture to kick-start Acorn's campaign.

"However, we will need to improve on our second-half display of last week and in particular cut out the dropped passes as good ball retention is vital at this level."

Acorn are set to welcome back some, if not all, of the seven first-teamers who missed out last week - props Lee McTigue and Darren Crake, centres Steven Irving and Gareth Lloyd, wingers Gary Isles, Alan Willitts and Nick Clark.

However, teenage full-back John Tattersfield badly damaged his ankle ligaments last week and will be out for a while.

The new coaching team for York Acorn 'A', Ian Hann and Darren Rhodes, will want to get off to a good start as they kick off their Yorkshire League division three campaign with a trip to newly-formed Wakefield outfit White Hart (KO 2.30pm). It will be their first competitive game in charge.

Heworth 'A' start their YL division four campaign at home to Stanley Rangers 'A'.

New Earswick All Blacks entertain Selby Warriors in the York and District ARL Cup on Saturday needing to get some points on the board (KO 2.30pm).

All Blacks, who now have former York Wasps stalwarts Alan Pallister and Mick Ramsden on board, lost to York Acorn in their first group match and indeed failed to get on the scoresheet.

They need to beat Selby to have any chance of reaching the final of the pre-season competition, while a win for the Warriors will mean either they or Acorn will reach the final.

Selby's former Wasp, Shaun Austerfield, is unavailable as is Alan O'Driscoll, who injured his shoulder in the recent three-tries-to-two friendly win over Selby RU.

All Blacks and Selby will begin their respective Yorkshire League campaigns next week.

Updated: 12:26 Thursday, August 29, 2002