Skipper Iain Priestley is hoping Pudsey St Lawrence's batsmen can recover their form when he takes his injury-hit side less than a mile down the road to play Bradford League First Divi-sion leaders Pudsey Congs tomorrow.

It is one of the biggest tests of the season and St Lawrence face it five days after an eight- wicket home defeat against Spen Victoria. They are also without injured key bowler Adrian Rooke, spinner Ian Fisher, who is with Yorkshire, wicketkeeper Craig Thomas and his deputy, injured Martin Redhead. Second team player Philip Wilson is promoted.

"Of our bowlers, Gary Sev-ern, Michael Thompson and David Winter have had in-juries, but Adrian Rooke is our biggest problem," said Priest-ley. "He is our best bowler, but he has got a deep- seated thigh injury. He ties one end up and takes wickets."

Priestley, who took over as captain from Ashley Metcalfe, said: "Despite our injury problems we haven't bowled badly, but we are not scoring runs. "We are pleased with our overseas batsman Tariq Aziz, but Chris Gott, James Smith and myself have failed to produce the scores we should be doing.

"Tariq, who plays first-class cricket in Pakistan and captains a team, is very correct and has done well, but we need to play around him. When he comes in at No 4 we need a score on the board, but have made it hard for him. He has played very well, but he cannot express himself when wickets are falling at the other end."

Priestley knows St Lawrence must improve on Monday's defeat if they are to test their local rivals. He said: "There was a bit of life in the pitch and Spen bowled very well, but 77 is no score. We lose a game and win a game so we are looking for consistency.

"As far as the league as a whole is concerned, other clubs seem to be losing ground on Congs. East Bierley, who were second, lost two games last weekend. Congs are not invincible, but they are looking very strong. Matthew Doidge has a team who play together. He has blended them very well.

"Naveed Rana-ul-Hassan is a talented cricketer, but his bowling partner Neil Gill knows the strengths and weaknesses of the top batsmen in the league."

Doidge, brought up at St Law-rence, said: "Previous form goes by the wayside. There is intense rivalry between both teams - among players and supporters.

"I enjoy playing in games like this and we know that if we slip up in a particular department we will get beaten.

"We started well, but I am disappointed I lost the toss in our last three matches. We might have picked up another two points if we had won the toss."

Congs will be without influential all-rounder James Middle-brook, who is with Yorkshire at Swansea.

Bradford and Bingley have young Yorkshire all-rounder Alex Stead back for the home match against in-form Hanging Heaton.