LEODIENSIAN were without doubt the bogey team for Bradford Salem last season.

The Leeds club defeated their Heaton rivals 23-5 at Crag Lane last October – Salem’s first defeat of the campaign – and 29-7 in January at Shay Lane.

“If we had won those two matches we may well have won promotion in second place,” admitted Salem’s first-team manager Neil Klenk.

Salem have again started the season well, defeating Wath in the Yorkshire Shield and winning their opening two league matches before hosting Leos, who have lost two from two, tomorrow.

“We definitely have more strength in depth now,” said Klenk. “Ryan Smith has proved an astute signing, while we are also expecting big things from Conor Wood.

“Also the blend of director of rugby Sam Gardner and coach Phil Nilsen is working well.”

However, Smith is unavailable, so Chris Clough, who played last season for Salem’s second team and has league experience with Hunslet Hawks and Hemel Stags, makes his debut at outside centre.

Rhys Green returns to the back row, having recovered from the cut lip he suffered against Wath, and Mark Smith starts at prop in place of unavailable John Bradbury.

After two away defeats, Keighley are hoping that the experienced Dave Pullen can prove a catalyst when they make their seasonal home bow against Leeds Medics & Dentists.

“Dave is in his late thirties and we shouldn’t be having to call on him, but it is a case of needs must,” explained director of rugby Graeme Sheffield.

“He will play at hooker. Throwing in isn’t necessarily one of his strengths, but what he does offer is an inspirational presence around the field.”

Bradford Salem (home to Leodiensian): D Belcher; C Walker, C Clough, C Wood, S Savage; A Robinson, M Child; M Smith, A Veitch, S Davies, J Morrell, J Cunliffe, R Green, D Pearson, J Fawcett. Replacements: J Mitchell, D Snowden, J Booth.

Keighley (home to Leeds Medics & Dentists) from: E Barker, S Blakely, S Booker, S Brown, L Carter, N Curr, L Daniel, A Ebbrell, L Everett, S Everett, M Ferrazzano, M Hagyard, J Hannah, N Holroyd, A Horsfall, D Iliff, D Lester, T Lowther, S Minikin, D Pullen, D Smith, L Sokee, C Spencer, L Uren.