HEAD coach Leigh Paul-Rientoul is confident York Acorn ARLC can overcome the loss of star full-back Matt Chilton in their play-off push in National Conference League division one.

Acorn take to the field for the first time since Chilton’s departure to pro club York City Knights when they host top-six rivals Pilkington Recs on Saturday (2.30pm).

They go into the game seventh in the table, behind Pilkington on points-difference following Recs’ victory at Skirlaugh last weekend. The two sides are three points behind the teams in fourth and fifth with six games to go.

Paul-Rientoul said of Chilton’s exit: “I’m in regular contact with (Knights boss) James Ford - he is all for helping our players to develop and that helps us.

“When we lost Joe Porter (to the Knights 20 months ago) it left a massive dent but you deal with it. It just gives someone else a chance. It’s not ideal to lose top players but they’re moving on to bigger and better things so we’re happy for them.”

He added: “If they’re signing our players we must be doing something right at our end.”

On getting into the top six, Paul-Rientoul said: “I’m confident because, aside Matty, we’ve got virtually all our players available now.

“It (players being unavailable) is the same for every club but I’m sure if we get a full-strength team out we can beat anyone in our league. We’ve lost games through having people unavailable - away at Featherstone Lions we were missing 13, which is ridiculous.

“We’ve got cover (at full-back) for Chillo and we can kick on.”

Hooker Lewis Lord is the one player ruled out this weekend, due to new work commitments. He has been back at Acorn for over a month since returning from Loughborough University - and from his stint at League One club Coventry Bears. His absence puts a bigger onus again on fellow hooker Jimmy Mountford.

Acorn lost the reverse fixture 30-18 at Pilkington, but Paul-Rientoul added: “We made hard work of it and gifted them most of their points.

“We can give them a better game at home and hopefully get the win.”

Meanwhile, in the Yorkshire Men’s League, relegation-threatened New Earswick have another tough task at home to East Hull.

Heworth host Hull Wyke looking to continue their title surge in division one - while Acorn ‘A’ could do them a favour by beating high-riding Hunslet Club Parkside.

Sherburn Bears, who were in action last night against Sheffield Hawks, host Dearne Valley Bulldogs in division four, and Heworth ‘A’ go to Kirkburton in division five.