Resurgent Woodlands are ready to keep proving their Bradford League critics wrong.

A win on Saturday at Undercliffe would lift them into third spot in Division One and turn up the pressure on the top two – both of whom they still have to face in the closing weeks.

While they staunchly refuse to make any predictions, there is a renewed confidence among Pieter Swanepoel’s outfit.

“Anybody who has written us off for this season may be looking a bit foolish,” said club official Phil Godfrey.

“We’ve got over the disappointment of losing to Bradford & Bingley and since then come back very well.

“Confidence took a little bit of a knock last Sunday in the cup, when Farsley chased down a big total we’d set, but generally speaking, our batting is firing.”

Woodlands romped to a maximum-point haul last time out with a 117-run win over East Bierley. After last year’s disappointment, there are encouraging signs for the team that had won the previous four league titles.

It looks a good time to be playing Undercliffe, whose own title aspirations have slumped with back-to-back defeats including last week’s 166-run home hammering by leaders Pudsey St Lawrence.

Undercliffe will be waiting on all-rounder Shaaiq Choudhry’s availability. The Worcestershire slow left-armer was away on county duty last weekend and made his T20 debut against Durham.

The Pears close their 20-over campaign this weekend with must-win matches against Warwickshire at Edgbaston tomorrow night and then at home to Lancashire on Sunday.

Experienced batsman Mark Gilliver has also been out with injury to add to Undercliffe’s problems but Woodlands are still anticipating a closely-fought contest.

Godfrey said: “Undercliffe did beat us very convincingly at the start of the season. They’ve been a surprise package ever since, although maybe not to themselves.

“They have bowled very well and batting-wise, young Tabbi Bhatti from Baildon has been doing a good job. There’s also Ashley Metcalfe, who is always capable of winning a match, so we expect a hard-fought game.

“We always look to improve every year and new captain Pieter Swanepoel has said he will not talk about championships. Finishing sixth last year didn’t satisfy the committee but we are on course to improve on that.”

While Undercliffe host the undoubted game of the day, Pudsey St Lawrence should stretch their advantage at the top at home to lowly Saltaire. Second-placed Bradford & Bingley travel to Farsley.