Bradford and Bingley's preparation for tomorrow's Priestley Cup final will be unusual as they have no match today.

Due to an odd number of teams in Bradford League Division Two, each side in that section have a couple of rest days per season, and it is one of Bingley's today.

Their skipper Carl Sharp admits this could be a mixed blessing, despite them having had an extended net earlier today.

He said: "Having no match today might be good for the bowlers, who wouldn't have to work, but from a batter's point of view it would have been useful to have had a knock in the middle."

Bingley, who are at full-strength, are happy to be cast in the role of underdogs tomorrow, but reckon they have the edge on the bowling front.

Sharp said: "The first few overs against Woodlands' overseas player Sarfraz Ahmed will be tough, but I think if we can keep him out we will do well because I don't think their bowling is as strong as ours.

"He is a very fine bowler, but he can bowl only ten overs whereas in league matches he has been bowling 20, so obviously Woodlands rely on him."

Cup finals are great occasions for all 22 players, but Sharp feels tomorrow will be particularly memorable for his team-mates Gary Topp, Richard McCarthy and New Zealander Lance Shaw.

Sharp, who took over the captaincy from Pat Fordham during the close season, said: "What a special occasion the final will be for Lance - it's his 20th birthday tomorrow.

"He has played brilliantly for us all season with more than 60 wickets in the league, and it was a big bonus signing him."

Sharp added: "What a big day it will be too for our young batsman Gary Topp.

"He is only 17 and is playing in a cup final in his first full season of first-team cricket."

At the other end of the age scale from Shaw and Topp is McCarthy.

Sharp added: "Richard had a knee operation a couple of months ago but he is fit now, and that is a big plus as he has been bowling well. Sometimes a big game brings the best out of players and Richard is a big-match player.

"At 41 it might be his last final. He has been a wonderful servant for our club."

Apart from seeing off Ahmed, Sharp also reckons a key area of the contest will be the battle between Bingley's opening bowlers McCarthy and Shaw and Woodlands' top four batsmen.

He said: "Hopefully, we can get a couple of them out early. I have plenty of bowling options - six, plus Robert Walker." Being cast in the role of underdogs is no problem for Sharp, who said: "The teams we play week in and week out in Division Two are not as strong as Woodlands, but we happy to be underdogs."

However, Sharp concedes that playing on their own ground will give them an edge.

He said: "It is a slight advantage, but only a slight advantage.

"We hope to win the toss and put a big score on the board. I expect Tim Orrell will bat first if he wins the toss too."

As for which Woodlands batsmen Sharp admires, he said: "Richard Pyrah scored a stack of runs for Cleckheaton last season so he must be a very good player.

"Also Orrell is a really good big-match player - he is very dangerous."