YORK Lokomotive ARLC still harbour title hopes in Yorkshire Men's League division three despite failing to win for the last three games.

The Lokos followed two draws with a 24-18 defeat at Ossett Trinity last week, leaving them two points behind leaders Knottingley Worms having played three games more.

They face a tough task at home to Slaithwaite on Saturday (2.30pm), too, made harder by the fact their ranks are currently depleted by injury and unavailability. But captain Liam Watling says they remain up for the fight.

"It will be tough, especially after the last couple of weeks, but we're here to win as many games as possible and hope Knottingley slip up in their backlog of fixtures," said Watling, whose side missed out on the title last year in the last minute of the last game of the campaign.

"We're still second and we'll keep going until it's mathematically impossible."

The Lokos thrashed Slaithwaite 46-14 at their place in May but it was one of only two defeats for the Saracens this term. The West Yorkshire side, however, have played only once since June 19.

Said Watling of the test on Knavesmire this weekend: "It looks like they've not played many away games so it might depend on what team they can get out.

"When we played them away, they were a big, physical side on a very narrow, tight pitch. Hopefully we can use our bigger pitch to our advantage.

"It's important to get back to winning ways quickly after the two draws and last week's narrow away loss against a physical side.

"We had players missing through holidays and injury and we've got a couple more away this week. It's testing the squad's depth but having Lokos Athletic (the club's reserves team) is proving to be a good thing as it's helping to bring players through and get them match fit for the first team."

York Acorn take a break from their promotion battle in National Conference League division one as they have a blank weekend but York Acorn 'A' continue on their title chase in YML division one as they go Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks, where full marks will be expected against a side at the foot of the table.

Leaders Mirfield Stags also have an easy game on paper, however, against second-bottom Milford 'A'.

Heworth return to action in division two at Bradford Dudley Hill 'A', a side currently sitting second, The Villagers are fourth.