Having been promoted last season as play-off winners, Keighley find themselves in an unusual situation on Saturday.

Despite having won only two of their 13 games so far this season and having been a steady fixture in the bottom three of SSE North One East, the Rose Cottage side are favourites to win this weekend.

They are at home to Darlington, who are a place and nine points below them.

Darlington won a derby 26-22 at Middlesbrough last weekend to claim only their second league victory of the campaign but Keighley’s director of rugby Graeme Sheffield said: “If we play like we did at Cleckheaton last week then there is no reason why we shouldn’t beat Darlington because Cleckheaton’s defence was excellent.”

Keighley are set to keep the same team as last week but the composition of their bench will depend on the availabillty of Paul Sinfield and Danny Lester.

Keighley won the away fixture 36-31 in September, and Sheffield remarked: “It is very unusual for us to concede 30 points.”

Sixh-placed Cleckheaton have swapped wingers for their tough encounter at fourth-placed Sheffield, bringing in James Wilson and leaving Martin Woodhead on the bench.

They have had to change their hooker, however, Steve Worsley crying off and being replaced by Ben Thrower, with Andy Piper promoted to the bench from the Kestrels.

There is little to separate Baildon from their visitors Thornensians in SSE Yorkshire Division Three.

The Jenny Laners and their visitors are third and fifth but both are on 42 points, with Baildon having won nine matches and Thornensians eight.

The Brian Hawkins Memorial Trophy will be at stake.

Keighley (home to Darlington) from: H Titley, A Sutcliffe, B Blackwell, M Ferrazzano, L McGee, D McGee, A Brown, C Spencer, W Armitage, O Sugden, R Clarke, D Illif, P Rossi, S Minikin, L Sugden, P Sinfield, J Hannah, D Lester.

Cleckheaton (at Sheffield): Jonno Marshall; R Hayden, O Marns, Matt Piper, J Wilson; I Gordon, J Bickerdike; P Turner, B Thrower, C Piper, D Nolan, R Piercy, R Piper, O Akroyd, R Bennett. Replacements: A Piper, M Beasty, M Woodhead.