Bradford & Bingley start what could be a season-defining four weeks of fixtures on Saturday.

The Bees, who have risen to second in National League Three North, are at home to fourth-placed Darlington Mowden Park.

A week on Saturday they travel to Chester, who are currently third, and, after going to Beverley (tenth) on February 5, they host current leaders Stockport the following Saturday.

“We have worked hard to get to where we are and these are the kind of games that you look forward to,” said Bradford & Bingley’s director of rugby Martin Whitcombe.

“We cannot wait for Saturday to come around. I have only seen Darlington Mowden Park once but they are obviously a good side.

“They are well organised and well coached and it is a big challenge but it is a game that we feel we can win.”

The match brings together the best attack in the league (the Bees have scored 448 points, which is 93 more than next best Chester) and the best defence (Mowden Park have conceded 221 points, which is five less than Stockport).

But Whitcombe pointed out: “Before I arrived we were shipping 30 points a game, and that is the first thing that we targeted.

“Stuart Dixon has worked incredibly hard on our defence since.”

The Bees have only conceded 131 points in their last nine games, and that includes a 42-26 reverse at Birkenhead Park.”

The Bees have delayed selection – not because of injuries but more because they have greater choice.

Whitcombe added: “I wouldn’t say that we have a squad system but we do have strength in depth, which means that we don’t have to flog the same players every week.”

The coaching staff at Wagon Lane have been boosted by the arrival of Adam Oldfield from Skipton.

Whitcombe said: “This is great news. He is a junior international and has a lot of experience from his time at Wharfedale and he did an excellent job as head coach at Skipton.

"He will look after the second team at Bradford & Bingley but if we can persuade him to keep his boots handy he will give us emergency cover at scrum half.”