Paul Newlove will make his first-team debut for Cleckheaton at Moorend tomorrow.

The 33-year-old former Great Britain rugby league international will play in the centre in the National League Three North match against Blaydon.

Newlove - rugby league's most expensive signing when he moved from Bradford Northern to St Helens for £500,000 in 1995 - will hopefully stiffen Cleckheaton's midfield defence.

Cleckheaton Sports Club chairman Alan Bentley said: "We cannot make any excuses for our recent defeats against Rugby and New Brighton. We have been picking from strength, but we just haven't been good enough, and hopefully Paul will strengthen our defence.

"As Bradford and Bingley are finding out, you have to be on top of your game as a team in this division and if you aren't you will be found out."

Newlove, still the youngest Great Britain league international at 18 years and 72 days, is understandably a little apprehensive as it is still early days considering he retired from league last May with a foot injury having played only five games for Castleford Tigers.

Bentley added: "Paul has played a game and a half for our second team, coming off with cramp in his second match against Harrogate, but he didn't play last week as he wasn't available.

"However, our director of rugby John Bentley has spoken to Paul and is happy to give him a go. And even if he only lasts for 60 minutes it isn't as if we haven't anybody to bring on from the bench."

Newlove, who also played league for Featherstone Rovers on his way to winning 20 Test caps, comes in for former Otley player Chris Quinn, who drops to the bench. Julian Chard returns at scrum half in place of Gary Smith.

Meanwhile, Geoff Wappett, head coach of second-from-bottom Bradford and Bingley, isn't pressing the panic button ahead of their home match against fourth-placed New Brighton.

Wappett's team have only won one of their five matches so far and have the worst defensive record in the division, but he said: "It is still early doors yet. Yes, it is an uphill fight, but we have struggled a lot with injuries. Nevertheless Joe Simpson should be okay to return at full back and Ben Greaves should be all right to play on the wing. Also Jon-Paul Rimington is in contention in the centre against a side who should be a handful."

Otley are without Paul Williams at Exeter in National League One. He has been playing with a broken arm for the past three weeks. Wharfedale have scrum half Sam Cottrell back in National League Two at home to Rosslyn Park.

Otley (at Exeter) from: I Shuttleworth; C Hall, K Dench, N Taylor, N Law, P Mooney, W Sovatabua; S Binns, D Scully, A Brown; S Trethewey, B Fear, K Fullman, M Luffman, D Sayers, J Oakes, J Tiffany, R Pike, S Connor, M Stockdale, G Wilson.

Wharfedale (home to Rosslyn Park): J Davies; S Horsfall, C Malherbe, A Baggett; A Lovatt; D Snee, S Cottrell; C Ingram, J Lawn, N Dickinson, D Lister, A Capstick, R Baldwin, B Wade, S Allen. Replacements: A Peel, F Lovatt, P Hargreaves, A Oldfield.

Cleckheaton (home to Blaydon): G Boyd; J Bentley, P Newlove, M Billington, J Mortimore; M Sales, J Chard; P Turner, S Worsley, J Lamptey, C Rika, J Dudley, L Hamilton, O Akroyd, G Jones. Replacements: C Mason, D Harrison, N Salama, C Quinn.

Bradford & Bingley (home to New Brighton) from: J Simpson; B Greaves, S Dixon, J-P Rimington, R Padgett, R Tafa; T Rhodes, M Rhodes; R Kelly, P Scott, F Biddlecombe, B Clark, R Hughes, K Yates, B Volschenk, I Judson, L Makaafi, R Raper, L Treco, P Greaves.