WHARFEDALE'S position might be precarious in terms of their National League One survival but no towels are being thrown in or white flags raised.

The Greens are in the highest of the three relegation places but trail fourth-from-bottom Hull Ionians by 11 points with three matches left.

Wharfedale can only gain another 15 points but the good news is that Ionians are tomorrow's visitors, and Greens coach Jon Feeley says: "If we can beat Ionians then it transfers some of the pressure onto them, but we know what game they will be playing in terms of the driving maul, and they have one of our former players in Matt Dudman at No 9."

Although Wharfedale lost 30-10 at Plymouth Albion last weekend, Feeley was encouraged by much of what he saw.

He said: "We played some of the best rugby that we have played all season in the first quarter of the match and had periods of pressure in and around their 22 for the whole match."

The Greens are without winger Dan Tai but Oli Cicognini returns having been injured for most of the season, while Jordan Poole is back at hooker and Chris Steel props instead of Ali Wade (broken hand).

OTLEY hope some of their injury absentees return at home to Luctonians in National League Two North, while CLECKHEATON want to make it eight wins out of 11 in National League Three North at home to Rossendale.

Wharfedale (home to Hull Ionians): H Bullough; J Prell, A Hodgson, C Hudson, O Cicognini; J Guy, P Woodhead; M Beesley, J Poole, C Steel, D Preston-Routledge, G Hedgley, J Burridge, R Baldwin, J Barnard. Replacements: R Cano, S Graham, J Altham, D Solomi, J Bullough.

Cleckheaton (home to Rossendale): J Wilson; M Woodhead, L Queeley, Matt Piper, B Marsden; R Evans, J Bickerdike; P Turner, M Chivers, A Piper, R Piercy, T Austin, D Vento, R Piper, J Seddon. Replacements: J Hall, J Crowther, J Carley.