As the Aire-Wharfe League season enters the finishing straight, nowhere will the sinews and nerves be stretched more than at the top of Division Two.

And few games will be more keenly contested than Saturday’s clash between leaders Knaresborough and Rawdon, who are just two points behind them.

With players of the quality of Mike Baxendall, Stuart Carey and Jonathan Corcoran, Knaresborough were always going to be among the favourites to win promotion and they looked well on track when they beat Rawdon by four wickets earlier in the season.

But a three-match losing streak in early July showed their vulnerability. Since then they have reclaimed top spot with two wins but Rawdon will have every confidence they can gain their revenge for that early setback.

They only lost top spot because rain denied them more than a single point while dominating Thackley last week and, with players like Andrew Doidge showing his usual consistent form, they will be hoping to be back at the top of the heap by close of play.

Meanwhile, the chasing pack are yelping at the heels of the top two and Ilkley and Tong Park Esholt will expect to keep up the pressure with wins at Green Lane and Bardsey respectively.

Thackley are back in sixth place, ten points off the promotion spots, and know nothing less than victory will do at Adel, the side just above them.

Calverley’s slim hopes of avoiding relegation will all but disappear unless they beat third-bottom Colton, while Bolton Villas are looking for a first win in six attempts against North Leeds.

Harden need a miracle if they are to make up the 19 points currently needed to avoid being relegated from Division One a year after gaining entry but it is hard to see them picking up anything against third-placed Bilton.

Steeton can edge further towards safety at Pool, who are two points above them, while Otley should pick up full points at relegation-threatened Follifoot.

Second-placed Burley, who entertain Collingham, have only one win in their last seven matches and will be looking to regain the form they showed when the sides met earlier and David and Nick Brook shared a stand of 139 to put them on the way to a nine-wicket win that kick-started a run of victories.

Guiseley face Ben Rhydding, with both sides locked on 48 points and looking to recover from heavy defeats.

Skipton should at least maintain their eight-point advantage at the top of Division Three with victory at Alwoodley and will be hoping that Hall Park can take some points off second-placed Upper Wharfedale.

Horsforth, who are a point behind Wharfedale, will also be cheering on their neighbours but face a tricky match against New Rover, who are looking menacing from ten points back.

Silsden entertain Addingham, with both in the bottom four even though they have three of the division’s top-scoring batsmen in Johnny Johnson, Ricky Palacio and Majid Inayat, while Menston’s Gareth Lee will be looking to add to his 35 wickets at Olicanian.