Cleckheaton are at Birkenhead Park for their third-round EDF Energy Intermediate Cup tie on Saturday.

The visitors have gone for experience in the backs in John Bentley and Mark Billington with the idea of im-proving their defence.

The sides also meet a week tomorrow in North One at Moorend and Cleckheaton spokesman Alan Bentley said: "Saturday is a very, very important game.

"There aren't as many teams in our division as in the national leagues and if we lose we face the prospect of some blank Saturdays.

"That may happen anyway because of the weather but we want to win this weekend to keep up the intensity of our season and prepare us for our forthcoming league matches."

Bentley added: "We have looked good in attack in our backs but we have looked a little bit brittle in defence and that is why we have recalled Bentos and Mark Billington.

"In the pack, we expect a good battle as Park have several former Waterloo players in their line up."

Cleckheaton (at Birkenhead Park): R Hayden; J Bentley, T Lauriston, M Billington, M Callaghan; O Edwards, D Castle; A Benn, M Chivers, J Lamptey, M Smith, C Mason, R Piper, J Dudley, J South. Replacements: S Worsley, G Turton, M Piper, M Burrows.