Although Bradford & Bingley's player-coach Neil Spence admits it would have been nice to have fielded an unchanged team, he is delighted at how key partnerships in his side are shaping up as they prepare to face fourth-placed Preston Grasshoppers at Wagon Lane in National League Three North.

One such pairing is the half-back axis between scrum half Joe Bartlett and fly half Tom Rhodes.

Spence said: "It has taken Joe two or three weeks to get to where he was last week but he is the missing link.

"His service is so good to the backs if it is quick ball, and if it is slow ball he talks the forwards through it.

"He just directs things well and has a good head on his shoulders."

Another important duo are the centres Stuart Dixon and Richard Tafa.

Spence added: "Stuart gets one or two niggles but seems to play through them and Richard and Stuart are strong in attack and defence."

However, the fifth-placed Bees have suffered a major injury blow with lock Barry Clark breaking his arm last week in the stylish victory over Darlington Mowden Park.

Spence said: "He'll probably be out for six to eight weeks. We are also missing props Rob Wilson and Peter Hall, who are at weddings."

Bradford & Bingley (home to Preston Grasshoppers): B Greaves; A Chalmers, S Dixon, R Tafa, M Kirkby; T Rhodes, J Bartlett; R Raper, I Clunis, I Judson, B Grange, R Hughes, R Padgett, S Onesi, N Spence. Replacements: P McCumiskey, J Warren, C Fisher, M Simpson.