Having finished ninth last season in their first season back in the top flight since 2001, Brighouse are looking to kick on in 2007.

"I have had a chat with a few of the lads and a top-six finish is our aim," said Brighouse's Mark Gilliver.

"We have signed seven players, so it might take us time to gel, but things are going very well so far."

The player who has undoubntedly made the most impact is former Sussex medium-fast bowler Tim Linley.

Linley, who formerly played for Horsforth, already has 15 league wickets to his name, including a seven for 38 haul last Saturday against Farsley.

Gilliver said: "He just came into my shop, D&R Sports in Frizinghall, and I asked him what he did and we signed him.

"He is 6ft 3in and gets a lot of bounce and last weekend was the best I have seen anyone bowl in the Bradford League for two or three years. The bowler I most liken him to is Tom Glover of Pudsey Congs."

Linley is the top wicket-taker in Division One, and things aren't going badly either for Gilliver, who, with 234 runs, stands just one run behind Phil Slater (Bradford & Bingley) at the head of the run charts.

Gilliver said: "Sometimes you can get four ducks in a row and you don't know where your next run is coming from.

"But at the moment I am confident - even the rash shots I sometimes play at the start of my innings are coming off."

Gilliver has only failed once in four starts, making 50 against Bradford & Bingley, 113 against Manningham Mills, eight against Pudsey Congs and 63 against Farsley.

On Saturday, Brighouse, who are fifth, have a tester at Baildon, who are three points and one place above them.

"It will be nice to meet up with Jeremy Batty again - I haven't seen him for a few years. If he starts flighting his off-spin against me, I'll be looking to put him on the rugby field!"

Saltaire, who are fourth from bottom, will be hoping to have strike bowler Imran Arif available at Bowling Old Lane.

"These next two weeks - we play at Mills a week on Saturday - could shape our season," said Saltaire skipper Ijaz Khan.

Arif starred for Sussex in their match at Cardiff UCCE last week, taking two for none and two for 11.