Pickering Town will have to complete a hat-trick of victories over neighbours Selby Town if they are to stay on course for Northern Counties East League premier division title.

With their titles hopes hanging by a thread - they trail leaders Alfreton by 12 points, but with four games in hand - every victory has added importance for Pickering.

But after two close victories over their rivals this season - 2-1 in the league and 2-0 aet in the FA Vase - the Pikes know it won't be easy.

"We've a tough run of six games in the space of 15 days or so," said boss Jimmy Reid. "We start off with a nice little derby.

"There is always a lot of interest in these games and both games against them this season have been very close - there is not a lot between us."

Selby, having seen their own title dreams dashed by a terrible run since the turn of the year, will be in no mood to roll over for Pickering.

But the Flaxby Road outfit have been hit by a horrendous injury list that has robbed them of six first team players.

Ian Phillips, Ben Ward, Nigel Oldfield, Dominic Moyles, Dexter Tucker and Stuart Lee are all ruled out, forcing boss Bob Lyon to look to his reserves.

"Our reserve team have had a good season, so we will see exactly how good they are on Saturday," said Lyon. "We've had two close games against them - losing in the last minute in the league and after extra time in the Vase - so it is time for a bit of revenge."

Harrogate Railway will attempt to put their cup blues behind them when they entertain mid-table loiterers Brodsworth.

Fourth-placed Rail tumbled out the League Cup after a 1-0 defeat by Arnold Town on Tuesday, but will want hit back with a flurry of goals at Station View.

Highly-rated young striker Andy Sunley could get his chance after being named in the squad as boss Paul Marshall looks to blood players for next season.

The 17-year-old has been scoring regularly for the club's Academy and reserve teams and has caught the eye of the Rail manager.

Goole face Borrowash Victoria for the second time in a week hoping to improve on their last display.

Goole, who are not entirely clear of the drop zone, were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Victoria, but they need maximum points this time around if they are to boost their survival hopes.

In division one, Tadcaster Albion travel to struggling Parkgate with hopes of pulling away from the wrong end of the table. Taddy are just three points ahead of joint-second from bottom outfit Parkgate and will need to pick up at least a draw to keep this buffer.

Nestl Rowntree will try to pick up the pieces of their shattered season when they travel to Pontefract Sports and Social.

A defeat in the semi-final of the North Riding Cup on Saturday put pay their last hopes of lifting some silverware at the end of the season.

But assistant-boss Jon Reynolds has vowed to keep fighting to the bitter end.

The West Yorkshire League premier division outfit will be without Rob Ellis, Elliott Simpson, Steve Ward, Martin Cowl and Will Kilner.

Relegation-threatened Stocksbridge Park Steels will offer Harrogate Town the chance to close in on the UniBond League division one title.

With closest rivals Radcliffe Borough and Eastwood Town continually slipping up in their bid to catch up on the runaway leaders, John Reed's men now have a nine-point advantage and at least four games in hand.

Ian Blackstone, Chris Hill and Matt Albery all return to the 18 which will travel, while Reed has doubts over midfield duo Scott Bonsall (back) and Brian Ross (hamstring).

Tomorrow's squads

Selby Town (v Pickering Town): Code, Render, Tomlinson, Turner, Hart, Wain, Clayton, Crode, Bollands, Amos, Cygan, Baxter, Carmody, Saddler.

Pickering Town (at Selby Town): Martin, Mitchell, Reid, O'Reilly, Sturdy, Chapman, Morton, Farthing, MacAuley, Connor, Zoll, Wash, Dickinson, Willoughby, Vasey, Wood, Beech.

Harrogate Railway (v Brodsworth): Neale, Tye, Danby, Walker, Hartley, Watkinson, Moores, Ames, Haddon, Davey, Hart, Smith, Wilson, Morris, Sunley.

Nestl Rowntree (at Pontefract Sports and Social, meet Ainsty 12.45pm): Smallwood, Cooper, Dewhirst, Hodson, Durkin, Rayner, L Bond, S Bond, Osborn, Terry, Bilham, Hirst, Another.

Harrogate Town (at Stocksbridge PS): Connor, Atkinson, Ball, Aspin, McNaughton, Hudson, Ord, Merris, Bonsall, Ross, Stansfield, Donaldson, Whellans, Blackstone, Dunn, Fell, Hill, Albery.

Updated: 11:56 Friday, March 15, 2002