CLECKHEATON looked dead and buried just after the new year but six wins in nine matches since has transformed their National League Three season.

From looking relegation certainties, they could be safe as early as Saturday if Huddersfield YMCA fail to pick any points up at home to Billingham and Cleckheaton win at second-from-bottom Birkenhead Park.

The Moorenders, who need five more points to reach the 50-point barrier, are without ever-present Luke Pearson, who suffered a double fracture of the ankle last weekend, Tom Austin switching to the second row.

Wharfedale are in more serious trouble in National League One but have Josh Burridge back for the trip to fifth-placed Plymouth Albion after flu ruled him out of last weekend's 22-21 defeat at home to leaders Richmond.

Baildon are also in danger in Yorkshire Division Three, but new coach Andy Pollard is convinced that they will survive if they play like they did on Tuesday in their Aire-Wharfe Cup tie at home to Bradford Salem.

Bradford & Bingley's director of rugby Martin Whitcombe wants his forward to get involved in the mauls and his backs to stay out of the close-in conflicts, and not vice-versa, as the Yorkshire Division One leaders visit North Ribblesdale, while bragging rights are at stake as Bradford Salem host relegation-threatened Yarnbury.

Keighley, whose defeat at Old Rishworthians has made their pursuit of Yorkshire Division Two leaders West Leeds much tougher, have a stiff test at fourth-placed Pontefract but need only eight points from five matches to be certain of finishing runners-up.

Old Grovians, who need four points for survival, are at home to Leodiensian, while Otley, sixth in National League Two North and entertaining third-placed Stourbridge, don't want a solid season to tail off.

Wharfedale (at Plymouth Albion): H Bullough; J Prell, A Hodgson, C Hudson, D Tai; J Guy, P Woodhead; M Beesley, S Graham, R Cano, D Preston-Routledge, G Hedgley, J Burridge, R Baldwin, J Barnard. Replacements: J Altham, D Stockdale, A Wade, D Solomi, J Bullough.

Cleckheaton (at Birkenhead Park): J Wilson; M Woodhead, J Hall, Matt Piper, B Marsden; R Evans, J Bickerdike; P Turner, M Chivers, A Piper, R Piercy, T Austin, J Crowther, R Piper, J Seddon. Replacements: M Barlow, J Carley, D Graham.

Bradford Salem (home to Yarnbury): S Riley; S Savage, D Belcher, C Wood, A Wood; H Hall, I Woodwiss; A Hewitt, A Veitch, J Bradbury, J Morrell, A Brar, D Snowden, C Bain, J Booth. Replacements from: M Booth, R Smith, T Craven, D McNicholl.

Bradford & Bingley (at North Ribblesdale): B Greaves; A Mitchell, T Fiddes, L Moore, A Sutcliffe; S Driver, R Scull; R Raper, M Akauola, R Wederell, H Jeffrey, B Mitchell, M Cochrane, T Cummins, T Booth. Replacements: M Crotch, S White, J Malthouse.