SELBY can make giant inroads into closing the gap at the top of Yorkshire One if they topple Old Brodleians at Sandhill Lane.

Richard Selkirk's charges are enjoying a renaissance - four wins on the bounce have seen them up to fifth - after a stuttering start.

And two more points over an indifferent Brods side would see them leapfrog the visitors and move within touching distance of leaders Bridlington and York.

"It is a big game," said chairman of rugby Sam Longthorp. "We went over there last season and were well beaten, then they came to us and we beat them well, so it will be interesting to see how things go."

Blindside flanker Jim Nicholson is out through injury, so natural replacement Duncan Phillips steps in. Tom Bayston is another absentee, so Shane Sellers will fill the hooking role, while Welsh Exiles Under-21s centre Martin Prothero will start on the wing.

Second-placed York will not under-estimate old foes Yarnbury in their Clifton Park clash.

Although Yarnbury are languishing in ninth - seven below York - they gave leaders Brid a hard match last Saturday when losing 24-16.

York make one change to the side that beat Old Brods, with club stalwart Dave Spanton replacing the unavailable Matt Halifax. Kiwi hooker Jon Sharpe, whose accurate throwing at the lineout enabled York to exert sustained pressure on Brods, retains his place.

Stand-off Mark Roberts, who pulled a hamstring last Saturday, is York's only injury concern and will have a late fitness test. With usual replacement Craig Ventress unavailable, Nick Kay or Gary Cassidy will come in if Roberts fails.

Also at Clifton Park, York stalwart Allan Robertshaw, who has played over 1,400 games for the club, will pull his boots on one more time to celebrate his 60th birthday as part of a select XV to face Yarnbury 3rds.

Malton and Norton know they will visit Heath as underdogs for their Yorkshire Two encounter.

Malton, whose success in recent years has been built on their running game, know all about Heath, having been pipped to the Yorkshire Three title by the Halifax outfit.

And having suffered a reverse on their travels against Heath last season, Malton don't need to be told of the forward power that will await them, espoecially in the wet conditions.

Coach Pat Stephenson said: "It is going to be very difficult. I don't think they have been beaten at home for two or so seasons and with the weather as it is we know it is going to be a forwards' game, and this is their strength.

"The dry gazelle running weather, which is our forte, is now behind us, so it will be a war of attrition. But we did well against Ilkley and I was impressed at the way the forwards stuck to the task."

The pressure on the pack will be increased by the knowledge the backline will be without goalkicking sensation Willie Barber and Liam Cowton, while influential skipper Chris Creber is doubtful.

Also missing is New Zealander James McKay through suspension.

There seems no end in sight to the injury crisis plaguing Pockling-ton, with captain Darren Smith and Phil Thompson ruled out of the Yorkshire Two clash with fellow strugglers Northallerton.

Smith is back on the sidelines after a flare-up of the ankle injury which saw him miss the start of the season, while back-rower Thompson has a broken hand.

However, the beleaguered Percy Roaders do welcome back two former captains. Mark Floyd should be a straight swap for Smith, having recovered from cracked ribs sustained in training, while back-rower Paul Rhodes has found the lure of playing too strong after a year's sabbatical as a referee.

The two sides are sharing bottom spot, with just one win each.

York RI will be back to something more akin to full strength when they entertain Wath-on-Dearne in Yorkshire Three.

The hosts welcome back from injury three key players - second-rower John Alexander, back-rower Nathan Ashman and full-back Richard Lightwing. The game kicks off at 2.15pm.

Harrogate coach Ralph Zoing will see what his side are made of when they entertain Newbury.

Having seen their winning run brought to a halt by Esher - their first league defeat by the Surrey side - Zoing wants his side to show their mettle.

However, Gate will have to stop a familiar face from scuppering their hopes, with one-time Claro Road favourite Rob Faulkner poised to return.

Bulldozing prop Faulkner, who was the cornerstone of the Harrogate pack before Army commitments forced him to head south, has been limited in his appearances this season, but has caught the eye of the Newbury selectors while in the second XV.

Updated: 11:50 Friday, November 22, 2002