YORK Acorn ARLC boss Dave Kay expects defences to dominate when his side's title aspirations come under the microscope on Saturday, writes Peter Martini.

The Blue and Golds visit fellow high-fliers Ince Rosebridge for a crucial National League Conference division two clash, where victory would greatly enhance their growing reputation as promotion candidates.

However, this is arguably the toughest trip of the term. Wigan-based Ince, in their second season in the league, began the campaign as title favourites and lie second on points difference ahead of Acorn and Waterhead, with all three teams having a game in hand on leaders Eastmoor.

Day said: "Looking at the records this season, we've had the best defence and they've had the second-best, so you'd expect defences to be on top.

"Usually in those types of games the team with the better discipline and fewer errors comes out on top, and that's what we've been drilling home to the players.

"Ince have been the title favourites from the start of the season so we're going there as underdogs, which suits us because our away form is slightly better than our home form at the moment."

Hooker Michael Fitzsimmons and prop Mick Hagan both return and are likely to start, but Paul Day and goal-kicking full-back Kev Brundrett are both unavailable.

Heworth could do Acorn - and themselves - a favour by shocking Waterhead.

The Villagers have a difficult couple of weeks ahead as Eastmoor follow Waterhead to Elmpark Way, and spokesman Ken Sykes said: "It's obviously a tough one but we're hopeful we can turn in a decent performance and we need to try to get something out of it to get us off the bottom again."

Heworth fell to the foot of the table last week when their loss at Millom, coupled with results elsewhere, saw two teams leapfrog them.

Sykes added: "We think this is a game we can win, though we'll have to play better than last week when we spent too much time defending.

"I saw Waterhead play against Huddersfield a few weeks ago and, although they won, they had quite a bit of difficulty, and this was the week before we went to Hudders-field and won.

"They've got one or two key players but they did not look all that impressive - though they do keep winning."

Luke Judson and Nicky Dobson should return to boost the side, but Sam Clarke and Carl Potter are doubts.

Updated: 11:15 Thursday, November 11, 2004