FIELDING an unchanged team in rugby union these days must be as rare as hen’s teeth.

As CLECKHEATON and BRADFORD & BINGLEY head into a big North One East derby at Moorend tomorrow (2.15), player availability is enough to make the respective coaches Thui Barnard and Martin Whitcombe pull their hair out – if the latter had any left.

Cleckheaton were missing Barnard, Luke Pearson, Ryan Piercy, Lee Queeley, James Wilson, Pat Foulstone and Neil Cherryholme last week in their 20-17 defeat at bottom club Northern.

Meanwhile, Bees director of rugby Martin Whitcombe admitted: “For the last five matches I reckon that we have made about five changes per match, and I can’t imagine that that will change this weekend.

“I reckon that we will have used about 32 players over that period, so it is a matter of sitting down for selection and seeing who is available.

“But the most disappointing thing about our recent away matches at West Hartlepool and Malton & Norton is that we haven’t got anything out of them.

“High tackle laws are in place and I am not one to moan about referees as they have a difficult job, but when one of our players (Tom Cummins) has treatment for a head injury and it draws blood like it did last week at Malton, then you wonder what someone has to do to get red.”

Barnard, Pearson and Wilson are set to return tomorrow, but the hosts have lost full back Mikey Hayward (pulled hamstring), with Wilson, who has had a double kidney infection, switching to full back, with Brad Marsden expected to replace him on the wing.

The Bees, who have lost two of their last three, and Cleckheaton, who have lost their last seven, are both on 39 points, just six points above a relegation berth.

Barnard said: “First of all I am seeking a good performance, and hopefully that will lead to a win.”

Cleckheaton (home to Bradford & Bingley): J Wilson; G Fitzsimmons, M Swetman, Matt Piper, B Marsden; R Evans, J Bickerdike; P Turner, B Thrower, A Piper,L Pearson, T Barnard, J Carley, J Seddon,J Plunkett. Replacements: T Mobbs, M Wood, S O Else.