NEW Earswick All Blacks face a mini player crisis as they head for an important Pennine League premier division clash away to Clayton.

Five key men could be missing, in addition to crocked player-coach Chris Judge, for what Judge says is a difficult test they must pass.

Captain Ben Jones and former skipper Jez Petch are unavailable, while JoJo Hnesh, Dan Wellard and Carl Pallister are all struggling with injury.

Pallister is closest to fitness and, if okay, will move to stand-off, with Liam Gargan taking Jones's number seven shirt, though All Blacks might still have to call on veteran full-back Dave Carling to come out of retirement again.

Judge said: "We're struggling really and it's a real big game for us because Clayton are challenging us."

All Blacks lie third in the table, in striking distance of the top two, with Clayton fourth with a game in hand.

"They're up there looking at the top four and if we're going to think about trying to win this competition, these are the sort of games we have to do well in."

All Blacks are yet to hear whether they have definitely been awarded the two points from last week's game against Halifax Irish, which was abandoned on 68 minutes with the York side leading 14-0.

However, the latest updated table on the league's website includes that 14-0 result, and the club are hopeful that decision will be ratified once league chiefs meet.

York Groves head into their division five game at lowly Guiseley with coach Simon Moat saying a slip-up could kill their promotion hopes.

The Terriers travel in good form and with a fully fit squad, with a couple of players having enjoyed the benefit of last week's postponement to shake off minor injuries.

However, they are not taking anything for granted, with Moat stressing the importance of the fixture for both teams.

"Guiseley need to start picking up points, especially at home, if they are to get out of relegation trouble, and I expect them to come at us and try to dominate from the start," he said.

"They have a couple of tricky half-backs that we need to keep a close eye on, but if we do this it limits their capabilities and should allow us to dictate the game."

He added: "We need to keep our composure, keep control of the ball and make sure we play out our sets. We can't afford any slip-ups or our promotion hopes will be all but over. This is a game we should win but we're fully aware we have to earn the points."

Off-form Selby Warriors have a difficult game in which to counter their slump in division three as they visit Little-borough, while York Acorn A' will look to move further above them as they travel to lowly Silsden Park Rangers.