STRUGGLING Pocklington will come face-to-face with former coach Gary Pearce for the second time this season when the Percy Road club head to Hull.

Pearce, who was instrumental in Pock's rise up the ranks while he was player-coach, has since taken his Midas touch to the east coast, where the former Welsh international has taken Hull to the top of Yorkshire One.

Conversely, Pock have endured a torrid time this season and are currently staring relegation in the face.

And things are unlikely to get much better against a side who beat them 47-14 back in November and have only lost once this year.

Tight-head prop George Managlo comes back into the squad after returning to the club from Scottish club Kirkcaldy.

Managlo, 20, had spent the first three months of the season at Percy Road before returning to his native Scotland, but he has now indicated he is missing life at Pock and is setting up arrangement to return on a permanent basis.

In the meantime, Managlo will be available on an ad hoc basis.

Also returning will be vice-captain Andy Kirby, who has missed the last month with a groin injury.

Selby have been given the perfect boost ahead of their vital relegation clash with West Park Bramhope following the capture of former favourite Carl Paterson.

The 23-year-old fly-half has joined from Hull Ionians and will go straight into the first team after his registration was fast-tracked through.

Both Selby and Bramhope are attempting to claw away from the drop zone, with the former desperate to leap-frog their Leeds-based opponents and avenge a forward-dominated 9-5 defeat earlier in the season.

They are hopeful Matthew Smith, who scored the only try of that game, and Tim Horner will have shaken of injuries.

York will just be glad to play a league game when they take on Pontefract tomorrow.

York were denied the chance of any action on Saturday when the referee decided the pitch was too frozen, although a friendly game between York firsts and thirds did go ahead.

In their last league match, Andy Gair's men pushed leaders Hull all the way before succumbing 13-11, while they recorded a 24-20 win over Ponte early this season.

Coach Gair has not yet given up hope of promotion, but he knows there can be no more defeats.

Billy Cakadnitabola has returned to Germany and Rob Liddle is named in the second team so Sam Arkle should start on the wing. There is no Mark Roberts, so Craig Ventress should start at No 10 with Mike Ford at full-back.

York RI know they can afford no slip-ups when they travel to Northallerton for their Yorkshire Two encounter.

The Railwaymen are hovering in mid-table, but a defeat at Brompton Lodge will see them dragged back into the mire.

But having already seen off the challenge of North once this season - courtesy of a 17-8 win - RI will go into the match brimming with confidence.

Also on their travels will be Malton and Norton, who make the trek across to Bradford Salem desperate to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Malton are desperate for a game after seeing matches over recent weeks fall foul of the weather and refusal of the opposition to play. However, the enforced rest has meant the club can now select from full strength.

A 29-21 defeat earlier in the season against Salem hit Norton's hopes hard, so they will be keen to level the scores this time around.

Harrogate are forced into changes in the back row for their toughest home test of the season when runaway league leaders Plymouth come to Claro Road.

Open-side flanker Steve Hobson pulled a hamstring in training and is replaced by former Caerphilly man Howard Dawson, who will make his league debut.

And Mike Worden, having recovered from a head injury, will miss the game - and next week's trip to Nottingham - with work commitments. He is replaced on the blind-side by former Worcester man Rijan Slater.

Harrogate face up to the challenge on the back of four successive wins but after a month without a game, with frosty grounds leading to their trip to Orrell being called off followed by the postponement of last week's home game with Esher.

But they will take heart from the fact their 57-3 pounding at Plymouth in November was the catalyst for the victory run.

Team: Smithies, Clayton, Barker, Duncombe, Marr, Cholewa, Morgan, Melton, Salkeld, Scott Wilson, Dudley, Taylor, Slater, Dawson, Wade. Subs: Farrar, Rob Wilson, Nunns, Horner.

Updated: 12:08 Friday, January 11, 2002