WEATHER permitting, Wharfedale will be hoping to re-launch their National Division One challenge at Esher tomorrow, although whether the game will go ahead is still the subject of some doubt.

The Esher pitch still had some standing water on it in mid-week and with the Thames still subject to a flood warnings, any deterioration in conditions is bound to put the game at risk.

"We've never lost a game to rain in my time here," says press officer, David Page: "The pitch was very muddy last weekend, but we played. Standing water, of course, is a slightly different matter, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that there's no more rain and that we can go ahead."

Wharfedale are set to travel this evening and a decision from Esher was expected this morning.

If the match does go ahead, it will do so without David Pears. He was hoping to be available for last week's postponed trip to Camberley, but pulled out, and has decided that further rest would be prudent.

As a result, Neil Heseltine switches to fly-half and Andy Hodgson comes in at centre for his first game of the season. Up front, the Dalesmen make a couple of changes. Lock Antony Capstick, who has been on the replacement bench for much of the season, gets a start this week, as does prop Neil Dickinson. With Craig Ingram getting married shortly and Dickinson needing match practice to get back to full fitness, Ingram goes onto the bench, alongside Paul Evans and Russ Buckroyd.

Coach Peter Hartley intends to use all three players during the game, regardless of injuries.

"This will be the first time we've come across Esher and that should make for an interesting tussle," says Hartley: "One of the benefits of not knowing the opposition is that you do not go into the game with any preconceived ideas about how they will play.

"Obviously they've been doing quite well since coming up and, like so many teams in the division, are capable of overturning anyone on their day.

"They have Peter Winterbottom coaching the forwards, so they should have some idea."

Skipton are also keeping their fingers crossed as they put their league game against Leeds Corinthians on hold in order to complete their Tetley's Bitter Vase tie at Wakefield Cougars, which was a victim of the weather last weekend.

North Ribblesdale visit Old Brodleians with a new half-back pairing of Bryan McGeoch and John Hughes, who replace unavailable Neil Gemmell and injured Ian Bullock respectively