HAVING been promoted as SSE North One East champions last season, it is not inconceivable that fifth-placed CLECKHEATON could finish as high as third in National League Three North.

They have won all seven of their matches at Moorend this season, defeating second-placed Sale 20-17 in their last home fixture, but face another severe test tomorrow against leaders Sandal.

Cleckheaton president Alan Bentley said, on the back of a 22-20 victory at Rossendale: "We are just happy with the way we are playing – and only Sale had won there this season before us.

"However, Sandal have a different agenda to us in terms of ambition. They have just signed Kiwi centre Kieran Moffat, for example, who has played ten times for Otago in the ITM Cup."

Cleckheaton recall Matt Piper in the centre and keep the hard-working Carl Mason in the second row alongside Rob Afoa Peterson.

OTLEY, who defeated leaders Hull Ionians in their last National League Two North match at Cross Green, aim to keep up the good work in their home derby against Harrogate.

BRADFORD & BINGLEY, who have Stuart Dixon and Richard Tafa back in the centre, could do with defeating Pocklington at home as the Bees are still in a North One East relegation berth.

Yorkshire Division Two front-runners BRADFORD SALEM are at Old Rishworthians, the side who have come closest to handing them a defeat this season.

"We were hanging on," said Salem's first-team manager Neil Klenk of the 15-15 draw at Shay Lane on October 4. "We sent Simon Markey on to calm things down and he immediately got sin-binned!"

Salem have influential prop Simon Davies back after a rib injury, while Jamie Booth returns to the back row.

OLD GROVIANS have Matt Worrall, after 18 months out with a broken leg, and Adam Frost available for the home derby against Aireborough in Yorkshire Division Three, while BAILDON have named a squad of 19 for their match at Burley.

Cleckheaton (home to Sandal): R Hayden; L Queeley, J Wilson, Matt Piper, M Woodhead; Michael Piper, J Bickerdike; P Turner, B Thrower, A Dawson, R Afoa Peterson, C Mason, O Akroyd, R Piper, J Seddon. Replacements: J White, J Crowther, T Hanson.

Bradford & Bingley (home to Pocklington): A Mitchell; H Hall, S Dixon, R Tafa, A Wellington; S Driver, R Scull; R Wederall, M Cochrane, S Hill, H Jeffrey, B Mitchell, L Peacock, T Cokell, C Fisher. Replacements: R Raper, R Hughes, T Gough.

Bradford Salem (at Old Rishworthians): D Belcher; S Savage, R Smith, C Wood, C Malarkey; A Robinson, J Mitchell; R McKessar, A Veitch, S Davies, J Cunliffe, J Morrell, J Booth, M Gibbons, J Fawcett. Replacements: J Bradbury, D Snowden, C Clough.

Baildon (at Burley) from: S Thompson, D Whitley, P Lowth, T Peel, C Woodhall, J Fox, H Strauss, P Dobson, R Hill, R Kingham, J Moore, J Hargreaves, G Kershaw, M Robinson, N Giles, D Pollard, M Withers, A Beaumont.