Bradford & Bingley play a pivotal match tomorrow as they bid to gain promotion from National League Three North.

The leaders are at fourth-placed Tynedale, who have won nine successive home matches since surprisingly losing 16-14 against Darlington Mowden Park on September 10.

And among the Northumberland club's victims have been the Bees' challengers Nuneaton (third) and Preston Grasshoppers (fifth), while second-placed Blaydon go there on April 22.

The Bees' head coach Geoff Wappett says of Tynedale: "Bradford & Bingley's games at Tynedale haven't been terribly successful, and it is amazing how history has a habit of coming back to haunt you.

"It is a difficult place to get to and when you get there it is not overwhelmingly hospitable.

"We know we are in for a difficult day but at least Tom Rhodes is back at fly half, although Phil Greaves did well there last week, and Barry Clark is back in the second row.

"Our main injury doubts are in the back row with Barry Jacobsz, who trained last night, and Neil Spence. Neil has a shoulder injury and was 60-40 to play in midweek. We will give him as long as possible in order for him to get himself right."

Greaves moves back to his normal position of centre to partner Stuart Dixon, Jonny Leota having returned to New Zealand for personal reasons.

Normally Wappett's mantra includes victory and the collection of a bonus point for scoring four tries, but tomorrow he confessed: "I will just be happy with the win. After this we have three successive home games and I want us to have won the championship before we go to Darlington on May 6."

The Bees are six points ahead of Blaydon, who have played a game more, and nine points ahead of Nuneaton, who have a game in hand on the leaders.

Bradford & Bingley entertain Leicester Lions on April 8, have a home derby with Cleckheaton on April 22 and play hosts to Nuneaton on April 29. Cleckheaton have recalled 40-year-old Neil Gillan into their back row for the trip to Preston Grasshoppers.

Cleckheaton's Alan Bentley said: "Neil won't have the pace of Oliver Akroyd, who is still injured, but you know what you are going to get when you call Neil into a side. He is a workhorse and we will need that.

"We have also brought Richard Wilson back into the second row. Young Ryan Piercy was not as effective last Saturday but he is young enough to come again."

Otley coach Peter Clegg was not surprised by the RFU's decision to expand National League One. "We had been expecting that for the last three to four months but we have just carried on as normal," he said. Otley will be without skipper Glen Wilson (leg injury) at home to Cornish Pirates.

Bradford & Bingley (at Tynedale): B Greaves; J Simpson, S Dixon, P Greaves, M Kirkby; T Rhodes, J Heta; R Kelly, P Scott, P Hall, B Volschenk, B Clark, N Spence, B Jacobsz or K Yates, I Judson. Replacements: N Tuahalamaka, D Greenhalgh, S Burns or R Hughes, Yates.

Cleckheaton (at Preston Grasshoppers): T Gwilliam; J Rushforth, N Murray, M Billington, T Lauriston; C Quinn, D Castle; P Turner, S Worsley, J Lamptey, J Dudley, R Wilson, N Gillan, L Hamilton, G Jones. Replacements: S Johnson, C Mason, O Hawkins, I Gordon.