YORK Acorn ARLC face a key match on Saturday in their bid to reach the promotion play-offs - but will be down to the bare bones for it.

The in-form Blue and Golds, having risen to fourth in National Conference League division one on the back of a four-match winning run in which they have racked up 178 points, host seventh-placed Ince Rose Bridge, who have play-off hopes of their own (2.30pm).

But they will be without 11 first-teamers due to two weddings - including that of hooker Nick Speck - plus the return to York RUFC of Gareth Singleton and Chris Fox for the start of the 15-a-side code's season.

They also go into the game on the back of two blank weekends - although they did get a good game in last midweek when beating York Lokomotive 46-10 in the semi-final of the York & District Cup.

Head coach Leigh Paul-Rientoul said: "We're three points clear in fourth with four games left, but we've got a bit of an issue this weekend. We really are going to be struggling but hopefully we'll still get a decent side out.

"Ince Rose Bridge have put some wins together so it was going to be tough anyway.

"We've still got good players in there, though, including Lewis Lord and Lewis Brown at half-back, who have been excellent - I don't think we've lost since they paired up, with either-or being man of the match.

"Tim Stubbs (prop) is back from America after a few weeks away and we've got the likes of (veteran pack men) Tom Hill and Adam Endersby playing well.

"We might be struggling on the edges but we can cover that. The 13 will be pretty strong and we've got good lads to call on from the 'A' team."

The top two go up automatically with the next four going into the play-offs. Teams finishing third and fourth get home advantage in the semi-finals.

"We could afford to lose one of the four games and still stay fourth. The hardest may be at Normanton (sixth) next week but this one is the priority.

"We then have Hunslet Warriors (10th) at home and Featherstone Lions (11th) away and they might be playing to stay up, so it's all to play for really."

Paul-Rientoul earlier in the season questioned whether his side were good enough to compete in the premier division having struggled in the elite tier last term. But he said they were going all out for promotion.

He explained: "We always say we're too young, we should be ready in a year or two. But sometimes you have to look at that again. When are you ready? You have to take your chance when you get it.

"If we finish fourth and go up, that's still better than last time we went up from fifth.

"There is a big difference in the commitment needed in the premier compared to division one. You have to be more professional and can't have weekends off. We have a strength and conditioning coach but some lads don't entertain that.

"Hopefully if we do go up, a few more will buy into it and that could help us be good enough to stay up and kick on."

Acorn will meet New Earswick All Blacks in the final of the York & District Cup on a date and venue to be decided. New Earswick had been drawn against their 'A' team in the other semi-final - Heworth for some reason did not enter the competition, nor did Selby Warriors - but that tie was scrapped.

On their semi-final win, Paul-Rientoul said: "I didn't like having a fortnight off (from league action) in the middle of a good run so it was good to get that game in when it came."

Acorn 'A', meanwhile, go to Skirlaugh 'A' on Saturday in their bid to get into the Yorkshire Men's League division one play-offs, on the back of a great run.

Paul-Rientoul added: "It'll be tough on them as we will have to take some of their players but I'm sure they'll do well."