YORK RUFC head coach Sean Bass wants his side to crush Bradford Salem's confidence when the two teams collide in the quarter-finals of the Yorkshire Shield.

The Clifton Parkers' opponents have been unstoppable in Yorkshire Two this season - winning 13 and drawing one of their games - and, on their home turf, will pose the fiercest of tests as Bass's men target a place in the semi-finals.

"They are unbeaten and in their own backyard. It's going to be tough and we have got to get into them," he said. "They will be full of confidence but there is a difference between Yorkshire One and Two.

"Bradford Salem will be looking at things and thinking 'if we can beat York then we belong in Yorkshire One'. They will fancy their chances. We have got to take the bull by the horns, grasp the nettle and get into them.

"We have to start with a bang and not let them get into their stride. They are a team that are used to winning. We have had two good run-through sessions and, even with the Malton and Doncaster Phoenix defeats in the league, we have played well.

"We have played some good rugby and we haven't finished (moves and games). If we finish, there is no reason not to get a win."

Freddie Potrykus, back for the festive period from university, comes straight into the front row with Bass extolling his power - "When we have got him we have got to use him". His brother, Sam, drops out.

Malton & Norton have resisted the temptation to name a weakened team as they host Pontefract in the Shield last eight. John Lumley comes into the forwards with Nick Salisbury dropping to the bench.

Josh Heggie will play at number eight in an otherwise unchanged squad from that which notched a tenth successive win with a 22-12 victory at Hullensians in Yorkshire One.

Division rivals Pontefract have won just three of their 14 league games and club spokesman Bill Laidler said the club was taking the Shield very seriously.

He said: "The lads are very keen to get this game won. It is a conduit to a national competition next season. We could have brought several other people in but everyone was keen to play and we needed to take that into account."

Pocklington's first team do not have a game, but Pocklington Pilgrims have a home third team derby with Driffield at Percy Road (kick off 2.15pm).

Several Pocklington junior teams are in action on Sunday. Pocklington Under-13s and U14s are at Beverley and Hull respectively, while the U15s and U16s are at home to West Park Leeds and Huddersfield.

The annual Pocklington v Old Pocklingtonians Boxing Day game is on Friday, December 26 (kick off 1pm).