FOR the second time in three years Huddersfield face the unenviable task of tackling Leeds Tykes in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup (Chandos Park, 2.00).

The runaway leaders of National II are expected to field a mixture of Academy and first-team players, while Huddersfield are aiming to be as near to full strength as possible.

"We've played the Tykes and Morley in the last couple of years, and got dumped out in the first round," said player-coach Mark Sowerby.

"So we'll be pretty much as strong as we can be, and if they do happen to include quite a few Academy players, then you never know.

"I'm not saying we'll win, but we'll certainly be giving it a go.

"We're definitely without Andy Metcalfe and Damian Clayton through injury, which means young Tom Ainsworth has a chance to shine.

Huddersfield (v Leeds Tykes, h, 2.00): Swift, Carter, Johnson, Paxman, Shaw, Wickett, Ainsworth, McPhail, Gough, Stringwell, Hinchliffe, Barnard, Pratt, Whitehead, Sowerby. Subs: Davies, Pollock, Taylor, Harris.

Falcons (v Sheffield Tigers, h, 2.15, meet 12.45): Grimes, Davies, Wilson, Prescott, O'Toole, Lockwood, Rothery, Thorpe, Rotchell, Takis, Baxter, Bodsworth, Shiel, Doyne, Sharrock. Subs: Truelove, Smith (J), Quarmby, Nield, Chatta.

Extra C (v Old Brodleians, h, 2.15, meet 1.00, from): Giblin, Pickering, Ward, Taylor, Ellis, Skyes, Ledgard, Hinchliff, Foster-McBridge, Fort, Kenyon (S), Ibbotson, Thomas, Finn, Baggs. Subs: Marshall, Sharratt, Kenyon (W), Carter, Tallboys..

Academy (v Skipton, Sunday, h, 12.00, meet 10.45): Brook (S), Brook (A), Hirst, Cornelius, Cox, Morgan, Ainsworth, Dearman, Joyce, Slater, Harris, Rowan, Smith, Wise, Quarmby. Subs: Booth, Nield, Bamford, Dvies, Sharrock.

* With no outstanding League fixture to arrange and having already been dumped out of the Yorkshire Cup, YMCA have fixed up a friendly against Bradford and Bingley's second string, at Laund Hill tomorrow (2.15).

"We shall be selecting a mixed side, comprising grade 1 and 2 players," said head coach Carl Thewlis, who is still smarting from the decisions which cost his side two points in last week's YorkshireI game with York.

An injury-time try by winger Dave Holmes was overruled by the referee for obstruction, although the same move (not resulting in a score) had been carried out by both sides earlier, without penalty!

"The side will be a mixture, because I'm missing several key players, but I still want the players to remain focused as we look to win our last remaining six matches and finish in the top five."

YMCA (v Bradford and Bingley, h, 2.15,meet 1.00): Gregson, Dalton, Whitehead, Pearson, Hellawell (K), Bracken, Anderson, Housley, Wuff, Travis, Dent, Morton, Wrafter, Marshall, Rees. Subs: Farringdon, Nyahoda, Scanlon, Garrety (M).

YM third (v Old Crossleyans, h, 2.15, meet 1.15): Murphy, Nasey, Saville, Young, Orton-Blue, Holmes, Morton, Senior, Woods, Rogers, Flaharty, Cusworth, Sykes (M), Sample, Greaves, Hirst (I), Hirst (P), Noble (K).

YM U17 (v Old Brodleians, h, 12.00, meet 11.00, from): Dyke, Hopkins, Dyke, Orton-Blue, Orton-Blue, Willans, Hodge, Lumb, Marshall, Senior, Moorhouse, Wrafter, Johnson, Calvert, Stead, Bell, Roberts, Pearce, Housley, Dickins, Bamforth.