WHARFEDALE welcome back skipper Andy Hodgson and fly-half David Pears for tomorrow's visit of Moseley to The Avenue, the Dalesmen needing to get back to winning ways after their fall from grace at Nottingham last weekend.

The first defeat of the season followed a below-par display and with a string of big games now about the start against the teams most likely to succeed in National Division Two this season, Wharfedale cannot afford to allow their form to dip at this crucial stage.

"One positive thought to take into the game is that we can't play as badly as we did last week," says coach Peter Hartley. "Nottingham wanted the win more than us for most of the game and there were spells when we weren't at the races."

Hartley believes that the honeymoon spell is almost over for his team.

"The fixture structure worked to our advantage with us playing all the new boys in the opening weeks and now we have two successive home games as the opposition gets tougher, which should work in our favour," he says. "Now the better teams are queuing up to face us and we need to be at our best. The big boys - in every sense - are lining up, starting with Moseley."

The return of Hodgson and Pears will boost the Greens attacking options, but the team is not without its worries.

Scrum-half Sam Cottrell suffered neck spasms after gym training during the week and Graham Smith stands by, while both Pedram Salashouri (work) and Gareth Johnston (holiday) are unavailable to take the wing berths, Andrew Lovatt and Jonathan Davies taking their places.

Only change in the pack is in the back-row, where Ben Pattinson gets his first league start.

o Skipton delayed finalising their team to visit Leodiensians until last night's training session because of an extensive injury list.

After a game but fruitless showing at North Ribblesdale last weekend, the Sandylands men need to turn their season around without delay, but there are very positive signs that their new coach Ashley Thomas can bring about an improvement, manpower problems permitting.

o North Ribblesdale moved nicely up the table thanks to last weekend's success and that win may act as a catalyst for further success at Heath tomorrow.