PICKERING Town warm up for next Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Mickleover Sports by travelling to Brodsworth tomorrow.

The third-placed Pikes are just five points behind Northern Counties East League premier division leaders Mickleover and can afford no slips ups against lowly Brodsworth ahead of the big game at Mill Lane next weekend.

Key defender Michael McNaughton will return for Mark Wood’s men at the Doncaster club having missed the last game due to work commitments.

However, fellow centre-back Rob Eeles is still injured, along with long-term casualties Lyle Hillier and Mark Swales. Luke Ibbeston will be hoping to score in a fifth successive game for the Pikes, who have taken 17 points from 21 in a seven-match unbeaten league run.

Pickering also continue to impress on their travels with eight wins and just one defeat from 11 fixtures.

Fourth-bottom Brodsworth are without a win in 14 matches – a run stretching back to November 5 and including 11 losses.

Second-placed Selby Town, three points behind Mickleover, play host to another South Yorkshire side in Armthorpe Welfare.

Armthorpe, who are 12th, could include a familiar face to Flaxley Road regulars with former Robins striker Bruno Holden now among their ranks.

Bob Lyon’s men will be bidding for a fourth successive victory, although Armthorpe have also won their last three.

In the first division, improving Tadcaster Albion are targeting a fourth win in five games on their travels at fifth-placed Emley, who have fallen off the promotion pace having managed just one point from nine in their last three fixtures – all at home.

Leaders Scarborough Athletic will be eyeing an 11th straight league win at home to Glasshoughton.

In Blue Square North, fifth-placed Harrogate Town need a victory to put some distance between themselves and play-off rivals Stalybridge Celtic, who are four points behind Neil Aspin’s men with three games in hand.

Harrogate Railway, meanwhile, can extend their four-game, 100 per cent start to 2009 in the Unibond League first division north at mid-table Garforth.