PACK men will be key for Malton & Norton RUFC as they strive to keep the pressure on table-topping Bradford & Bingley in Yorkshire One.

The Gannock outfit cut the gap at the summit to five points after they hammered Old Crossleyans 37-3 and the leaders saw their game postponed.

Now Malton go to North Ribblesdale tomorrow knowing another difficult game awaits against a side who have been beaten only once on their home patch this season.

But club spokesman Bill Laidler reckons that, in difficult conditions, the game could come down to a forward battle.

And he fancies his men to come out on top.

"Our forwards were absolutely magnificent last week," Laidler said. "It was very wet and very heavy and they destroyed the Old Crossleyans pack. When we played North Ribblesdale in Malton they had very good, strong backs but they weren't very good up front.

"That might still be the same and, if the conditions are like last week, we would hope it would suit us."

Josh Heggie remains on the treatment table as he continues to recover from an ankle injury but, otherwise, head coach Chris Creber has a full squad from which to choose.

After a tough test at top of the table Doncaster Phoenix last time out, Pocklington host the league's other Doncaster-based outfit, Wheatley Hills, who are currently in a relegation dogfight at the other end of North One East.

They sit fourth from bottom, one of a group of four who are detached from the rest.

With three sides going down, the battle to escape the drop is certain to go to the wire and Pocklington will expect another hard fought game at Percy Road - Wheatley Hills traditionally have an experienced set of forwards and they laid the foundation for a 29-13 win over Pocklington when the the two sides last met in September.

But Pocklington currently have some good competition for places, with several players in the Panthers also putting their hand up for consideration.

It means that Pocklington's starting side is yet to be finalised. An initial squad of 20 includes skipper Ben Rees, who came through an injury comeback try out with the Panthers, along with Chris Morton and James Flint.