Skipton hope to keep their flickering promotion hopes alive when they visit Yorkshire Two league leaders Huddersfield YMCA tomorrow.

Defeat for second-placed Dinnington at Keighley last weekend opened up the possibility of the South Yorkshire team faltering fatally on the run-in, a scenario which could become even more pressurised with Dinnington still due to visit Sandylands.

To have any hope of taking the promotion race to the wire, however, Skipton need to win at Laund Hill tomorrow, a tall order given that the opposition have established themselves as the strongest side in the division with a string of good results.

"When we met at Skipton, they never really looked like losing and always seemed to have things under control," says Skipton spokesman Chris Windle. "That said, we have nothing to lose and we know that if we want to keep those slender promotion hopes alive, we need to win."

All of which spells out a 'deep end' for Kiwi Cameron Marcroft, who will make his first senior appearance since returning to the club at the start of the season.

He needed an operation to remedy a shoulder problem and did not restart his playing career with the second team until a few weeks ago.

With fly-half Adam Oldfield unavailable, however, Marcroft is brought in at No 10 to partner his countryman Duncan Brown.

With Anthony Maldera back in France, Matt Jones teams up with Andrew Porter at centre, while in the pack, Chris Howarth takes over from the unavailable Peter Jenkinson at prop.

While Skipton need a win to have any prospect of sneaking a promotion spot, North Ribblesdale are looking to repeat their win over Yarnbury last weekend when they play the return match at Brownberrie Lane.

The Settle side are currently fourth from bottom with games in hand on the teams above them, but the situation higher up the league structure is still so fluid that nothing can be taken for granted at this stage.

The cascade effect which starts at National Division Two can yet take a number of twists and turns before it arrives at Yorkshire One and North Ribblesdale, so the Grove Park men have plenty of incentive to extend their recent run of good form.

Unbeaten in four matches, Ribb are now full of confidence and even their win over Yarnbury underlined the mood in the camp. They were 11-0 down at one stage, but came back to win emphatically.

With lowly York and West Park Bramhope to visit Settle, there is every hope in the club of a strong mid-table finish, but a double over Yarnbury is the immediate priority.

The side will show at least one change to last week's line-up. Russell Howarth is unavailable and his place in the back-row will be taken by Sam Boatwright, who should help to give the side a stronger lineout presence.

The only other uncertainty surrounds the availability of flanker Mick Carr, who may have work commitments.

Chris Wallbank stands by if Carr is needed by his employers.

The date of Jake Kelly's return to action should be known in the next 24 hours.

He received a 10-week ban after being sent off for stamping in a game against Selby.

Ribblesdale felt that the severity of the sentence was extreme and appealed to to the Rugby Football Union in the hope of getting a reduction.

Kelly was able to take his place in the bench last weekend - Martin Johnson style - but the case was due to be considered in the last couple of days and a decision was expected by the weekend.