THIS season’s West Riding County Cup competition gets underway tonight, and holders Farsley Celtic will be big favourites to progress to round two after landing a home tie against lower-ranking opponents.

It will be far from straightforward however, as visitors Knaresborough Town will be relishing their chance to shine at Throstle Nest.

Four divisions separate Evo-Stik League Premier Division outfit Farsley from their Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One visitors.

Both clubs have momentum behind them and are challenging for promotion.

Knaresborough are positively buoyant as they sit eight points clear with a game in hand at the summit of the NCE lower tier.

Their last defeat was to Leeds United’s under-18s side in pre-season, and since then they have gone 15 games unbeaten in all competitions, dropping only four points from two draws in 14 league fixtures.

The Celts are also in confident mood after three straight victories have lifted them from seventh to fourth in the Evo-Stik top tier, just one point off top spot.

There is another NCE League versus Evo-Stik League clash at Clayborn, and that should be a lot more intriguing given the positions of Liversedge and their visitors Goole AFC.

Just one step on the pyramid separates NCE Premier Division outfit Sedge from visitors Goole AFC, who are rock bottom of Division One North in the Evo-Stik structure.

Sedge are 15th in their division but are on a four-match unbeaten run, one of those being an FA Vase tie win after extra-time.

Goole’s league rivals Ossett Town host a Campion side riding high in third place in NCE Division One.

There is an all-NCE League tie at Dennyfield as Thackley, 14th in the top tier, welcome a Glasshoughton Welfare side who are 17th in the lower tier.