PICKERING Town will be keen to reinforce their push for the Northern Counties Eastern League premier division play-offs when facing another promotion hopeful this weekend.

After chairman Jamie Hopwood revealed to the Press that he was hopeful of a play-off push, Pickering will need to gain points in quick succession to close the gap on fifth-placed Hallam, five points currently separating the two sides.

They have the opportunity to therefore make a real statement this weekend, when travelling to sixth-placed Penistone Church on Saturday (3pm).

Penistone have four more points than the Pikes so far this season, with Nathan Keightley’s 18 league goals being a driving factor in their success.

Elsewhere in the premier division, Tadcaster Albion make their long-awaited return to action after seeing flooding wreck their stadium, and with back-to-back home matches therefore being postponed.

Tadcaster’s pitch will be allowed an additional week to recover, with Albion on the road this weekend.

They will travel to second-bottom Winterton Rangers on Saturday (3pm), a team that are currently five points adrift of safety.

The Brewers will need the services of the league top scorer, Elliott Andrew, should they wish to respond to their previous 3-1 defeat to bottom of the league Goole.

Finally, Selby Town are preparing for their return after another postponement last weekend.

In division one, they will welcome Shelley to Richard Street (3pm), and will be hoping to start a run of form after one win in seven.

Harry Clapham’s four goals in his last five bodes well when welcoming a Shelley side that are currently in 14th, nine points behind the 10th places Robins.