WHARFEDALE will look to sign off for Christmas with their ninth win in ten matches at lowly Bracknell this Saturday.

Following a bad start, the Greens have become one of national league two's form teams over the last two months.

This was nowhere better illustrated than in last Saturday's 9-6 win at home to second-placed Newbury, which ended the visitors' seven-match winning streak. Having produced one of their best performances of the season, coach Peter Hartley warned against complacency for tomorrow's trip down south.

He said: "They may be second from bottom, but they have pushed everyone close and have collected lots of bonus points from getting within seven points of teams.

"If we go with an attitude that's less than good, we'll come back with egg on our faces and the good work from last Saturday will have been wasted.

"Other than against Harrogate, when they had their foreign players missing, they've stretched every side there is. It's their last home game before the break and they'll want to finish with a win. Their determination must be matched by ours or we'll be in trouble.

He added: "When you get yourself up for a good side you can't then drop your standard for a poor side, though I don't think Bracknell are that poor.

"They tend to be strong in the pack and throw the ball about it. It's a difficult pitch and not the most inviting of arenas. It's a difficult place to go like Wharfedale is."

The Dalesmen will have to make do without experienced hooker John Lawn, who came off in the first half against Newbury after pulling what is thought to be an intercostal muscle at the base of his ribs.

Lawn, who would have been making his 200th league appearance for the club, is replaced by second team hooker Dave Charnley, who will make his national league debut.

Hartley said he was confident that 27-year-old Charnley, who has come through the junior ranks, could make an able deputy for Lawn, who is hoped will be back for Dale's next match in the new year at Blackheath on January 8.

The Greens other change in the starting line-up sees Phil Peel drop to the bench to be replaced by Neil Dickinson as part of the prop rotation system.

Changes on the bench see back row Gareth Lodge make the step up from the seconds after impressing at Cleckheaton last week. Lodge's job in the army meant he had a spell away from the club but his post in Manchester has enabled him to rejoin the set up. Chris Meehan and Andy Peel complete the line-up.

The Greens' coach was reluctant to pick out individuals for praise in last Saturday's triumph, putting victory very much down to a team effort.

"We were very good for 80 minutes, which has not always been the case. We produced some excellent play and deserved to win by more. The forwards played well throughout and the backs tackled well."

Wharfedale: Davies, Horsfall, Malherbe, Baggett, Lovatt, Snee, Cottrell, Dickinson, Charnley, Ingram, Lister, Capstick, Baldwin, Verity, Wade. Reps: P Peel, A Peel, Meehan, Lodge.