The top two in the Northern Counties East League division one come face to face at the Recreation Ground tomorrow when Pickering Town entertain Hall Road Rangers.

The Pikes trail Rangers by just one point but have three games in hand over their Humberside rivals and, with half a dozen teams in with a chance of claiming the two promotion places, tomorrow's result could prove crucial in the final reckoning.

Pickering boss Jimmy Reid said: "We play them twice in three weeks and they're both big clashes obviously.

"Whoever wins the most points from the games will have a major advantage, not just points-wise but psychologically as well. If we win tomorrow we'll be two points ahead with games in hand, but if we lose we'll be four points behind, which doesn't sound so good.

"But we're looking forward to it. The pitches have bogged us down recently but we're hoping it will be drier and firmer tomorrow so we can pass the ball around."

At the other end of the table, Tadcaster Albion will have to make do without skipper Lee Maguire for about a month after tests showed he suffered knee ligament damage in the 5-1 defeat by Borrowash last week.

It was hoped the midfielder, who missed the 1-1 Northern Counties East League division one draw with Bridlington in midweek, would be okay for tomorrow's clash at home to Winterton, but the damage was worse than at first thought.

However, Albion boss Wayne Day has Billy Hicks back from holiday and is expecting his basement side to pick up three points as they bid to climb the table.

"On the back of two good performances but only one point, this is now a must-win situation for us," he said.

"When you look at the games we've got left, there are some I would expect us to win. Winterton comes into that category."

In the NCEL premier division, Goole will be looking to rattle up a big score against bottom club Armthorpe Welfare, who have so far conceded 57 goals in 23 games, while Selby Town will be hoping for similar success against third-bottom Liversedge, who they beat 2-1 after extra time in the President's Cup semi-final.

The Robins' squad has been decimated by injury this year, though, with four players still on the long-term absentees' list.

Nigel Oldfield, who suffered a cheek bone fracture in the cup match, will now be out for four more weeks after undergoing an operation, while Dexter Tucker is still awaiting surgery on his shoulder.

It is doubtful whether Paul Cygan or Stuart Lee will return this season. The former suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem, while the latter has been ruled out for two months with ankle ligament damage.

Victories for Goole and Selby would do a service for Harrogate Railway, who are now looking nervously at the relegation mire after just one point from five games.

The Railwaymen would do themselves a favour with victory against lowly Brodsworth.

The visitors lie fourth bottom but are just four points adrift of Railway, and boss Paul Marshall said: "It's a must-win game.

"We've lost four and drawn one of our last five league games and we need to get a win. Brodsworth are near the bottom so we'd like to think we'll beat them."

Neighbours Harrogate Town will look to continue surging up the UniBond League division one table with a victory at Eastwood Town tomorrow.

Defender Chris Hudson, one of Town's best players this season, returns after suspension ruled him out of Tuesday's impressive victory at Witton, while striker Kevin Severn, who was unavailable on Tuesday, could make his debut.

The foot and mouth outbreak has caused Wetherby Athletic to switch their West Yorkshire League home game with Nestl Rowntree to the visitors' Mille Crux pitch.

Wetherby's ground falls within a restricted area and, to help prevent the spread of the disease, they asked to play the match in York.

Teenager Will Kilner might make his first-team debut having been drafted into the Nestl squad.

A former player at Northern Counties East League club Buxton, the 19-year-old captained Emley's academy side last year and this term has impressed in Rowntree's second team, who are going for promotion to the Leeper Hare York and District League premier division.

"He's been outstanding for the reserves and as they don't have a game tomorrow, it's an opportunity for him to get in on the act in the first team," said boss Jim Collis, who could also have Martin Cowl back after injury.

Lowly York RI will be looking to scrape vital points from their trip to Beeston St Anthony's, while out-of-sorts Knaresborough Town entertain fourth-placed Whitkirk Wanderers.

Town's bad run has come against struggling teams, and secretary Ian Pickles said: "Our only win since December was against Bardsey who are third. Beeston are in the top four so we've probably got a better chance of victory than against sides at the bottom."

On Sunday, Pickering Town U19s will look to extend their seven-game unbeaten run at Harrogate Town U19s (ko 2.30pm).

Updated: 13:58 Friday, March 09, 2001