IT could be a big weekend on the amateur rugby league scene in York with York Acorn ARLC in Ladbrokes Challenge Cup action and New Earswick All Blacks facing arguably the biggest four-pointer of their Pennine League campaign.

Acorn go to National Conference League division one rivals Shaw Cross Sharks (2pm) in the first round of the cup - which takes place five weeks before their league season kicks off.

They have only been in training for three weeks and have not played any friendlies but boss Scott Rhodes says numbers - "up to 40 or 50" at sessions - and enthuasiasm have been "great".

"It's come a bit early," he said of the cup schedule. "The timing isn't great this year, but it gives me a chance to look at some of the players and at how they've progressed from last year, building towards the start of the season on March 7."

Only four points separated the sides last year - Shaw Cross won 12-8 at home and the Thanet Road fixture ended 24-24 - with the Dewsbury outfit finishing three places and three points higher in the standings, in fourth. The sides' only every meeting in the Cup saw Acorn win 18-10, away from home, in 2012.

"Shaw Cross is a difficult place to go but it's a winnable game. Both games last year were very tight," he said.

"We're going there to win and we'll put out our best side available based on how people have been training."

New Earswick, second in Pennine championship one, go to leaders Doncaster Toll Bar (2pm), who have a 100 per cent record and a six-pint lead at the summit.

All Blacks player-boss Jack Stearman doesn't think it will decide the title - but defeat would leave his side with a mountain to climb.

"You can never say never but obviously they are already well ahead," he said.

"Their away form is better than ours but obviously we go into every game thinking we're going to win, and I'm confident we can put in a good performance."

All Blacks' match against Allerton Bywater last week was postponed due to the weather.

Added Stearman: "We would have liked to have carried on our good run so the week off wasn't great, particularly with the number of fixtures we have left. But it gives people extra time to recover from knocks."

That does not help seven players, though, who are all unavailable this Saturday - Ollie Cook, Nic Caldwell, Pete Ritchie, Luke Morton, Karl Southerington, Jack Sinclair and Steven Clarke.

Stearman added: "We've still got a good squad to pick from."

Selby Warriors host Dewsbury Celtic in division four, while Sherburn Bears, promotion-seekers in the same tier, go to Cutsyke Raiders in the first round of the Castleford & Featherstone David Poulter Open Cup.