FORMER York City Knights player Chris Smith will take to the field for Heworth on Saturday for the first time in months, having had his professional wings clipped by injury.

He had surgery on a recurring knee problem in the 2003-4 closed season and has been out of the pro game since then.

But he has been coaching at Heworth for the past few weeks and will play in their National Conference Two match against Ovenden.

Coach Jimmy Rothwell said: "He is injury free at the moment and he is hopefully going to be okay for Saturday. I think he will add something to the side with all his experience and it will be a boost for us."

Performances have improved dramatically in the past few weeks and it is hoped that results will soon begin to follow suit as they start to drag themselves up the table.

Added Rothwell: "We are scoring plenty of points but we are shipping far too many in. I'm happy with everything at the moment - it's just the results we're short of."

Will Neary, Simon Harrison and Nicky Wilson should also be back in contention having made the most of the blank week.

Heworth 'A' are at home to Nevison Leap.

Luckless York Acorn are being penalised for having two players in the Great Britain BARLA Under-23 squad with both unavailable for Saturday's long trek to Askam in National Conference One.

Wing commander Johnny Waldron and prop Adam Endersby have both been selected for their match against the Combined Services on the same day in Plymouth and so are out of action.

The long distance to Askam is also threatening to KO a number of players unable to get out of work commitments.

The Blue and Golds are desperate to get back to normality after having two games abandoned for contrasting reasons.

Last Saturday's match against Hunslet Warriors was called off after 61 minutes because of problems with the opposition supporters and touch judge - who was serving a seven-match playing suspension at the time - and the referee's report out this week also points the finger of blame in Warriors' direction.

Meanwhile, they are still waiting for a date for the hearing of the abandoned game against Castleford Lock Lane the previous week.

York Acorn 'A' are at home to Hollinwood in the league, while Selby Warriors travel to Sheffield Hillsborough in the cup.

Cup kings New Earswick All Blacks will be taking a fresh approach to Saturday's Pennine League Presidents Cup match at premier division Clayton.

Coach Simon Baynes will be shaking things up a bit to give some of those continually sidelined by the form of the current 17 a long-awaited run out.

One of those in line for a rare start will be second rower Robbie Beavers with a string of other changes set to be called in, with injuries to Jamie Daniel and Jamie Rhodes forcing his arm.

Updated: 09:06 Thursday, October 27, 2005