Cleckheaton's new head coach John Dudley has opted to start his reign from the bench on Saturday.

Lee Brown and Matt Burrows get the first crack at second-row berths for the North Division One match at home to bottom club Altrincham Kersal.

Cleckheaton spokesman Alan Bentley said: "John wants to look at his playing strength, and the best way for him to see what is going on initially is as a replacement rather than having to concentrate on his own game.

"That's a very good idea and he sees his role anyway as coming off the bench."

Cleckheaton are without ex-perienced centre Mark Billington, whose rib injury could signal the end of a long and successful career.

He is replaced there by Owen Edwards, who has moved from fly half to accommodate Jonny Marshall.

The latter, who had first-team experience on the wing last season, has forced his way into contention with a string of impressive performances for Cleckheaton's second string.

Bentley added: "The turn of the year is a vital time for clubs as fortunes either tend to go up or down, and we want to push up the table.

"We have had a lot of turmoil off the field and we now want to sort things out on the field."

Cleckheaton won the reverse fixture 32-15 in October, and it could have been a heavier defeat were it not for uncontested scrums.

However, Bentley said: "Altrincham have had a lot of injuries and the last thing we want to do is underestimate them."

Winger Matt Callaghan and flanker Joe South, who are both on the comeback trail from injuries, are in the Kestrels team at Ilkley.

Cleckheaton (home to Altrincham Kersal): R Duckett; S Bradshaw, O Edwards, T Lauriston, R Hayden; Jonny Marshall, D Castle; M Chivers, S Worsley, J Lamptey, L Brown, M Burrows, R Piper, R Burrows, L Hamilton. Replacements: C Mason, J Dudley, M Sargeant.