BRADFORD & BINGLEY'S season could well be defined by their next two matches.

The Bees, who are fifth in North One East, are at second-placed Pocklington on Saturday and host current leaders West Hartlepool a week on Saturday.

Bradford & Bingley's director of rugby Martin Whitcombe said: "We are where we want to be at the halfway mark of the season – five points behind the leaders.

"But the next two games, against the clubs who are first and second, will define where we go from here."

The Bees have delayed selection before their trip to North Yorkshire until after training tonight, but are hoping to field skipper Tom Booth and fly half Gerhard Nortier, although fellow South African Schalk Oosthuizen is an injury doubt, which could open the door for strong-running centre Richard Tafa.

OTLEY have won seven out of seven home matches in National League Two North, but that unbeaten record could be put under threat by third-placed Sedgley Park, who have won two and drawn two of their seven away matches so far, and have only been narrowly beaten in the other three.

CLECKHEATON, defeated 21-7 at Morley before Christmas, will be hoping to fare better in their latest derby in National League Three North when they visit Ilkley, who are two places and eight points better off.

BRADFORD SALEM see no reason why they shouldn't have a better second half of the campaign in Yorkshire Division One, given the number of players who should be available.

Salem's chairman Neil Klenk said: "Jamie Booth and Jack Mitchell are back in training, and Rhys Green should also be an option later this month."

The eighth-placed club should have a strong bench at home to injury-plagued North Ribblesdale, who are second from bottom.

Conor Wood, Kodie Brook, Sam Gardner and Jake Abram are just some of the names in contention for a replacements berth.

Seventh-placed KEIGHLEY, who won a bruising War of the Roses friendly 36-29 at Burnley on Bank Holiday Tuesday, want to get their league season back on track at sixth-placed Beverley after two defeats.

OLD GROVIANS, who are managing to keep the relegation berths at arm's length in Yorkshire Division Two, have a strong squad at home to Wetherby, who won the reverse fixture 71-3 in September.

Bradford Salem (home to North Ribblesdale): D Belcher; N Fontaine, M Trueman, H Hall, R Smith; A Robinson, M Booth; J Bradbury, A Veitch,T O'Sullivan, J Cunliffe, J Morrell, E Perkins, C Baines, C Manchester. Replacements from: C Wood, K Brook, J Callender, S Gardner, J Abram.