Last season’s runners-up Wibsey Warriors aim to go one better when they start their Pennine Presidents Cup campaign against St Joseph's at Northfield Road on Saturday.
The Warriors enjoyed a 44-34 success in the Premier Division clash against St Joe's in September and have improved week by week in the flagship competition.
Full back Mike Derrick is expected to join the squad after a further week’s recuperation but he will have a battle to claim his jersey back, with deputy Ryan Smith posting a hat-trick last time out.
Queensbury will look on the cup tie against Division One Crigglestone All Blacks as light relief from the rigours of a tough Premier season. They should have the upper hand with home advantage, while Clayton will have a tough battle on their hands at home to undefeated Championship outfit Halifax Irish.
Birkenshaw delay team selection pending a head count against old rivals Westgate Wolves. Richard Rhodes, Craig Jesse and Mick Emmott are injured but Alan Binns and Graham Trueman are hopeful of making the game.
West Bowling get their first Presidents Cup action for over a decade when they welcome New Earswick All Blacks to the Bankfoot Oval.
They last met in the Conference before the York side fell on hard times and now operate at championship level. Bowling have Lee Innes, Nigel Halmshaw and Joe Simpson on the teamsheet but player-coach Ricky Helliwell is out with a leg injury.
Bank Top Harriers travel to Keighley as underdogs. The hosts are going great guns and showed their cup credentials with a sterling performance against Sharlston Rovers in a narrow 12-0 defeat in the BARLA Yorkshire Cup.
The Harriers, however, will point to their recent Bradford Cup win against West Bowling as proof that they too can raise their game to a high level.
West Bowling A welcome back Lee Hutchinson and Elliot Cousins for their away fixture at Victoria Rangers in the opening round Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy, a competition they last won in 2007 against Wyke.
Undercliffe Wildboars travel to Underbank A in the Pennine Supplementary Cup. They will be without leading point-scorer Liam Jarvis as he is undertaking a charity event with his band for Children in Need. Full back Joe Jepson is also a doubt with injured ribs, and Ryan Dean is unavailable However, winger Ben Page, second row Josh Page, prop Michael Stephenson and loose forward Karl Walker are included in a strong squad.
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