HEAD coach Lee Denham is hoping to unleash a nasty York side on Selby in Yorkshire One tomorrow.

The Clifton Parkers chief revealed he has encouraged his men to be more physical and confrontational in their training sessions following a Christmas head-to-head with his squad - and his new aggressive side are already reaping the benefits.

York beat Bradford Salem 16-6 last week despite playing 50 minutes with only 14 men after forward Darren Rutherford was sent off.

As his side prepare to welcome their near neighbours to Shipton Road, Denham is expecting another tough performance but hopes to end the game this time with a full complement of players.

"They held their shape and at no point did they fall out of that," he said of his side's backs-to-the-wall win against Salem. "After about 25 to 30 minutes we were under the cosh and obviously lost a front row player, who is a big ball carrier, but we didn't lose our shape."

He added: "We had a sit down with the team over Christmas and we thought we would change the training and make it a bit more physical. I was wrapping them up in cotton wool to make sure they were getting on the pitch and it wasn't working.

"We are becoming a lot more physical and confrontational in training and the game last Saturday was fantastic. They brought everything. This time we have got a big side out - pack-wise - and we will have very strong, and open, backs playing.

"I am just hoping we can keep everyone on the pitch."

With Rutherford absent, Denham is also expecting to be without his two scrum-halves, Ben Johnson and Toby Atkins - the former suffering from a neck injury - for a game he describes as "huge". But George Davies will return to the squad and Denham is also considering continuing with Jack Bass.

Selby head coach Richard Nicholson was a frustrated man after his side came so close to defeating a strong Hullensians team last time out. Only a late penalty stopped Selby from celebrating a notable win but, as they strive to rise up the table, the Sandhill Lane chief can look forward with confidence to a game where he says the "form book goes out of the window".

Nicholson said: "We were very unlucky. We defended very well and there was a bit of frustration at the end - one lack of discipline - but that's what happens in this division. When we play against York it is almost a one-off.

"The form book goes out of the window and it is who plays best on the day. We will try and prepare as best as we can and be in a good frame of mind come tomorrow."

Nicholson can call on a settled side with only Charlie Cicero, who has returned to university, missing.