THEIR destiny is no longer in their own hands but York Acorn ARLC boss Scott Rhodes says nothing has changed for his play-off hopefuls.

Defeat to title-chasing Kells, combined with results elsewhere, saw the Blue and Golds slip to seventh in National Conference League division one, one point off Shaw Cross Sharks in sixth and two off Ince Rose Bridge and Hunslet Warriors in fourth and fifth.

They now need to win their last two games and hope any of those three teams above them drop points.

The good news for Acorn is that both sides they face are already relegated, starting with Saddleworth Rangers in their last game at Thanet Road on Saturday (2.30pm), so they are odds-on for four points, while Ince Rose and Hunslet must face Pilkinton Recs and Normanton respectively, two of the three runaway teams going for the title. Hunslet also meet eighth-placed Myton Warriors on Saturday, with the latter needing victory to themselves stay in the play-off hunt.

Shaw Cross are odds-on to retain a play-off place, as they, like Acorn, face two relegated teams and they also have the best points-difference of the four play-off chasers. But Acorn have the next best points-difference and this could prove key, giving them an outside chance still of finishing fourth and claiming a home tie in the play-offs.

Rhodes, however, said: "Nothing is any different to us. It's not changed. We go out and try to win each game as it comes.

"We've got Saddleworth then Salford and we'll go out to win.

"You can guess which way the other games are going to go but it doesn't make any difference to what we have to do."

Former York City Knights captain Scott Rhodes - who was inaugurated into the new Knights Legends roll of honour at the League One club's presentation ceremony last Friday in recognition of his playing days at Huntington Stadium and his coaching at Acorn - added: "The lads looked sharp (at training) and we're looking forward to the game.

"We're treating it as our last home game of the season. We've lost only twice at home all season and we're looking to finish it well."

Jordan Potter remains sidelined with a nee injury but Rhodes otherwise expects to have a strong squad from which to pick.

New Earswick All Blacks face another knockout tie prior to their Pennine League campaign cranking up, as they go to championship division rivals Queensbury in the President's Cup first round.

All Blacks head coach Jack Stearman, meanwhile, has left his role in the Knights office to take up a new sales job away from rugby league.

Elsewhere, Selby Warriors host Ovenden in the second game of their division two campaign, while Sherburn Bears go to Ryhill Hammers in division four east.

Yorkshire Men's League outfit York Lokomotive, whose summer campaign has long since finished, resurrect their season to travel to Fryston Warriors in the BARLA Yorkshire Cup first round. It promises to be a tough task.