Last weekend was a good one for Bradford Park Avenue as they edged in front in the race for promotion to the Blue Square North.

A victory away from home while most of the other fancied runners and riders were stumbling left Avenue clear at the top of the UniBond League Premier Division – and they can strengthen their grip on the leadership if they beat Ossett Town at Horsfall Stadium on Saturday.

But any notion that second-bottom Ossett would be no match for the table-topping club three points ahead of their nearest rivals with two games in hand was instantly dismissed.

Avenue boss John Deacey said: “It will be a tough game because they always are against Town and it will have that derby feel about it. They are hard to predict but they are great to prepare for and everyone wants to be involved.

“I went to Ossett on Tuesday to watch them play Matlock Town and it gave us some pointers but a lot to think about as well. I’m sure they would love to come here and do some damage to our promotion hopes.”

Matlock won the midweek game 1-0 thanks to a goal from former Bradford City loanee Nathan Joynes but Deacey knows that will only fuel Ossett’s desire to give Avenue a bloody nose.

Avenue also lost in midweek but in different circumstances. They bowed out of the West Riding County Cup at home to neighbours Guiseley, the Lions easing to a 3-0 victory which puts them into the last four.

But Deacey explained: “We had some injuries from last Saturday’s win at Burscough and quite a few players were cup-tied. The team that went out against Guiseley only had two of the starters from the Burscough game.

“We tried and the squad definitely benefited from it but it was no great surprise that we got beaten. We should be back to a stronger squad on Saturday because the unavailable players will come back into the reckoning and the injuries have responded to treatment.

“In fact, the only player definitely out will be James Knowles. He was back at hospital on Tuesday after suffering concussion last Saturday.

"It was a bad clash of heads and it has given him problems this week. Knowlsey is not a player who likes to miss out but he’s got no choice with this one.”