Selby Town still have an eye on promotion - despite being a massive 18 points behind the Northern Counties East League leaders.

That is according to assistant-manager Gary Cygan, who is hoping that three teams will be allowed promotion to the UniBond League this season.

Buxton and Liversedge have surged clear of the pack but no fewer than nine teams are in a position to grab third place, Selby among them.

"We still don't know how many will go up, but our aim is to get that third position" said Cygan, explaining that league chiefs are yet to decide how many teams will get the chance to move up the non-League pyramid.

"The year before last, four went up and we finished sixth. Last year we finished second and only one went up.

"Hopefully three, maybe even four, will go up this year and as it stands we've still got third place to play for."

Selby are also still in both the League Cup and President's Cup - they face a League Cup third round replay at Thackley after Tuesday's 1-1 draw - but their focus tomorrow is on a league game at home to Garforth, one of the teams out of the promotion picture.

Andrew Cox returns after work commitments ruled him out on Tuesday but there is a doubt over Stuart Lee, who came off with a shin injury.

Pickering Town's match at bottom club Brodsworth could suggest where their priorities now lie.

The high-flying side have won just one in five league games after the club revealed, back in December, that it was not going to apply for promotion, an indifferent run which has seen them lose ample ground on the top two.

However, in that time the Pikes have reached the fifth round of the FA Vase for the first time in the club's history and progressed to the last eight of the League Cup - where they will meet either Selby or Thackley.

Boss Alex Mathie said back in December: "If we can't go up the boys have not got anything to play for. The club should have applied in case we do win."

Anything other than victory at the league's whipping boys may suggest the team's aims are focused on cup conquests.

Harrogate Railway's last chance of silverware went on Wednesday as they were knocked out of the League Cup on penalties by division one side Gedling.

They will look to bounce back from that home shock away at top-half rivals Sutton Town, with whom they drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture just three weeks ago.

Tadcaster Albion will be hoping to have some rub of the green as they look to get their NCEL division one title tilt back on track.

Jim Collis slammed refereeing inconsistencies after their defeat to Parkgate two weeks ago - and then saw a controversial goal consign his side to a 2-1 loss at Pontefract Collieries.

They dropped to second place after that result but tomorrow entertain Borrowash Victoria looking to strengthen their promotion bid while top side Carlton and third-placed Parkgate take points off each other in Nottingham.

Updated: 11:21 Friday, January 27, 2006