WHARFEDALE go into action at Stourbridge tomorrow with two of their most experienced and influential players operating on a knife-edge in terms of discipline, (writes Tony Simpson).

In last week's win over Rugby, both Ben Wade and David Lister collected yellow cards and since both were deemed to be for foul play, they now face a ban if they are sin-binned again this season.

While Lister's departure last weekend was for illegal use of the knee, Wade was censured for shirt-pulling, an offence which still falls into the 'foul play' classification, even though something more physical or aggressive might be the expected offence.

For both club and individuals, the threat of a ban - and possibly more than the odd match on the evidence of other decisions - is a serious business.

From a club perspective, the loss of Lister the ball winner and Wade the focus point of so much of the pack's best work would be a crucial blow at an important part of the season.

For Lister, another fall from grace tomorrow would be a personal disaster. He currently has 148 consecutive league games to his credit - a record at National league level - and if he gets through tomorrow's match without incident, the magnificent 150-game milestone will be his.

While Lister is too modest a lad to allow such celebrity to influence his performance, even he must see the wisdom of keeping cool. On the evidence of last week's game at Sedgley Park, he may well be provoked tomorrow.

The Dalesmen go into action with Chris Malherbe, replaced at half-time last week by Pedram Salashouri, resuming on the wing, leaving the Dalesmen with all their key men in action again.

Salashouri takes his place on the replacement bench, while in the pack, Phillip Peel takes his turn on the bench, with Neil Dickinson and Craig Ingram starting at prop.

Given that only three teams still be faced - Sedgley Park, Nottingham and Moseley - have beaten them this season and two of the return matches are at The Avenue, it would be a surprise if the Dalesmen were not looking ahead with quiet confidence from their position of second place behind Sedgley Park.

However, such is the uncertain nature of the division that only the leaders can afford such optimism. For Wharfedale and the rest, there is far too much rugby still to be played for anyone to start counting their chickens.

It would even be folly to imagine that a trip to Stourbridge tomorrow is likely to yield easy points. A 50-point win over the Midlanders a few weeks ago may imbue a feeling that victory will be achieved with a half-decent display, but more likely a performance of equal merit to that earlier success will be needed to complete the double.

Stourbridge will have taken some comfort from their narrow defeat at Sedgley Park last weekend, when they scored three tries to two against the leaders, and while the Dalesmen are unlikely to be confronted by a much-changed side tomorrow, the players on duty will be keen to build on their trip to Lancashire and avenge that earlier setback.

Wharfedale: A Hodgson; G Johnston, A Baggett, J Davies, C Malherbe; D Pears, S Cottrell; N Dickinson, J Ogden, C Ingram, D Lister, A Capstick, T Jackson, H Verity, B Wade. Replacements: P Peel, C Greenwood, P Evans, P Salashouri.