INFLUENTIAL number eight Josh Heggie will be missing for Malton & Norton RUFC as they resume their Yorkshire One promotion push against Old Crossleyans at The Gannock tomorrow.

The pivot of the pack injured an ankle in the derby game with York before Christmas and although a scan has shown no broken bones, he has damaged the ligaments and is expected to be out of action for a few weeks.

"We are not quite sure how long it is going to take," said club spokesman Bill Laidler. "He is an important player for us and has been on fire this season. Jamie Rounthwaite has recovered from injury and he will come into the back row on the blind side.

"The front and second row will stay as they are and Ali Coe will move over to number eight. He has played there a few times before."

Of first consideration for Malton, though, will be getting the game on and Laidler is not confident the pitch will survive the continuing downpours.

"It's very, very wet," he added. "If the game had been yesterday we wouldn't have been playing. We are hoping for a dry spell but it is pretty bad. The game is touch and go."

Old Crossleyans are flirting with a relegation battle - sitting in 12th place having picked up only four wins this season - but Laidler said head coach Chris Creber and his squad would not be taking their opponents lightly.

That said, he has stressed the importance of putting together a five point haul as they bid to close the ten point gap between themselves and leaders Bradford & Bingley.

"They are improving a bit and have got one or two players coming back to them," Laidler said of Crossleyans. "We will be looking for all five points. The players have had that attitude all season. The first thing is to win the game and then do it as well as we can.

"There will be no complacency. In these sorts of conditions, you never know what is going to happen and you can get some fluky results."