CLECKHEATON have plenty of reasons to beat local rivals Morley in Saturday's SSE National League Three North home derby.

Cleck have won only two of their opening six fixtures since being promoted and fixtures secretary Alan Bentley admits they are desperate for victory.

He said: “Firstly we need to win for our league position and secondly, we’re at home but thirdly, we haven’t lost to Morley in the last five games in league and Yorkshire Cup.

“It’s a derby game with more at stake than just league points.

“There is a bit of local pride and bragging rights at stake, so it’s a very important game.

“At the moment we have lost our four away games and won both home games against Wirral and Rossendale, so heads could go down if we don’t win this one.”

Cleckheaton are boosted by the return of Rob Afoa Peterson, who has been missing for two weeks but will start on the bench.

Influential scrum-half Jack Bickerdike is still not fit but Cleck have drafted in 17-year-old Sam Wood, who came off the bench last weekend to make his debut and score a try in the defeat at Huddersfield YMCA.

Wood, who has been playing in the Huddersfield Giants academy, will make his full debut in the centres.

Meanwhile, BRADFORD SALEM chairman Neil Klenk is backing his team to build on their impressive start to the season when they play host to Roundhegians in Yorkshire Two.

Salem will hand a debut to New Zealander Ryan McKessar, a 19-year-old prop whose father Mike captained the club for two seasons in the late Eighties.

The teenager has been playing for the Sydenham club in Christchurch, who have provided Salem with several players down the years, including McKessar senior, USA international Robbie Flynn, Karl Thomson and Tama Collins.

Klenk said: “We are quite happy with the start we have made to the season.

“We’re still unbeaten, even though we made it hard work of beating Ripon last week during the second half.

“But home advantage should count this weekend and we are looking for another win on Saturday and at Sheffield next week.

“It’s a very difficult schedule in November when all the leading teams play each other, so it will be very much a defining month of the season.”

Also in Yorkshire Two, KEIGHLEY are desperate for a win at home to Ripon, who are one point behind them at the wrong end of the table.

BRADFORD & BINGLEY have had a mixed start to the season but will aim to build on their 17-15 home win over Percy Park when they travel to Sheffield in North One East, while ILKLEY host Alnwick in the same division.

A win for OTLEY at Stourbridge in National League Two North would lift them above their hosts in mid-table. The Cross Greeners are buoyed by their victory at home to Luctonian last week.

In Yorkshire Three, BAILDON host Old Otliensians, while OLD GROVIANS welcome Castleford.

WIBSEY also face home opposition when Rotherham Clifton visit them in Yorkshire Five.

Cleckheaton (home to Morley): R Hayden; L Queeley, S Wood, Matt Piper, M Woodhead; Mike Piper, J Wilson; C Thompson, J Crowther, C Piper, A Dawson, T Austin, O Akroyd, D Vento, R Piper. Replacements: B Thrower, C Blackburn, R Afoa Peterson.

Keighley (home to Ripon) R Wilkinson, B Atkinson, A Ebbrell, A Horsfall, N Holroyd, D McGee, A Balderstone; C Spencer, W Armitage, M Hagyard, I Buckley, D Iliff, L Sugden, S Minikin, J Hannah. Rep: T Lowther, S Booker, S Chilvers.