SCOTT RHODES says it’s all to play for his York Acorn ARLC team as they look to top group ‘G’ of the interim National Conference League.

The Blue and Golds lie second on points-difference behind Bradford Dudley Hill, who have a game in hand, and both sides face tricky games this Saturday – Acorn go to premier division club West Hull – before meeting the following week.

The play-offs start shortly after that and Rhodes wants Acorn to go into the knockouts as the leading team in their pool, ahead of their assault on division one next year.

They have won five games and lost three – including a narrow defeat to West Hull last month – so far.

“They (Dudley Hill) have got Hull Dockers and we’ve got West Hull, and we meet next week” said Rhodes.

“It’s all to play for. It could come down to next week.”

As for Acorn’s chances of toppling higher-ranked teams in the play-offs, he added: “You’re always hopeful. We’re still testing players out for next season in different positions, and we had six or seven of last year’s under-18s playing against Heworth last week, which bodes well.”

That derby, which ended 34-6 to Acorn, was scrappy. Rhodes added: “I was happy with the result but not the performance. We can play a lot better but at times it was a bit too easy for us. Sometimes those games can get difficult and we got dragged down a little bit.”

Rhodes ended up without Simon Wadsworth last week as he continues to struggle with a knee problem. He hopes to have Karl Harton and Michael Embleton available this week and will check on Johnny Waldron, who is carrying a knock, at training tonight.

Rhodes said of West Hull, who surprisingly prop up group ‘H’ despite three wins from eight: “All their games have been pretty close, and they’ve played good teams. We’re expecting a very tough game.”

It will be a case of damage limitation for Heworth at big-guns Skirlaugh, who have rattled up eight wins and 328 points in nine games so far to be the entire competition’s second-top scorers.

Heworth, using this competition as preparation for the division two season proper, are yet to win in seven.

Acorn ‘A’ host East Leeds ‘A’ in the Yorkshire Men’s League while Hunslet go to Oulton ‘A’.