Hi guys... Thank you for your speedy response! The play i was referring to is indeed both scenarios you mentioned. An inward and outward movement when pushing and pulling the spricket at 9 and 3! And there is play before it engages! Well my bike is 5 years old now and done 53 000km so i suppose they have done well since I have never changed them! Whats strange though is I have just had new front and rear sprockets and a new chain fitted.. Shouldn't the bike shop have picked up the issue when replacing the rear sprocket?