Relegation-threatened Bankfoot have suffered a blow ahead of their Special-ist Ducting Supplies Division One match at Pudsey St Lawrence.

Fourth-from-bottom Bankfoot were hoping to have Yorkshire and England's Anthony Mc-Grath available, but he is injured.

"With Yorkshire not playing, we were hoping to be able to field Anthony," said Bankfoot skipper Greg Colehan.

"But I understand he has either dislocated or fractured a finger.

"It is a pity because he has been in great form for York-shire recently, scoring 174 and taking a first-class career best five for 39 against Derbyshire."

Added Colehan with a laugh: "We'll just have to go in with the same old troops!"

A run of four wins and a winning draw took Bankfoot into mid-table security, but Colehan confessed: "We probably over-achieved in the first half of the season."

Second-from-bottom Spen Victoria's run means they are only five points behind Mir-field and eight adrift of Bank-foot, and Colehan said: "It looks as if East Bierley and Idle might be dragged into the equation too."

As for his own club's form, he said: "We haven't been playing good cricket over the last few weeks."

Woodlands topped 300, and Mirfield and Spen both made over 270 in Bankfoot's last three matches, and Colehan said: "We are not a team of superstars but we do need two or three players to come off every week, like Craig Hunt did with his 121 not out at home to East Bierley last month.

"Nevertheless our team spirit is fine. We thought we were close to safety, but it looks like we will need a couple more good performances."

As for second-placed Saints, Bankfoot's captain said: "They are a good side.

"At the start of the season I thought they would be there or thereabouts, and it has been proved. They have one of the best batting line-ups in the league."

Bottom club Undercliffe, rapidly reaching the point of no return, are at home to Saltaire, who took care of a very young Cleckheaton side last Saturday.

There are seven matches to go and Undercliffe must win three of those merely to draw level with Mirfield, and they have only won two so far all season.

Meanwhile, Spen must shrug off their Heavy Woollen Cup final defeat to Woodlands when they take on Hanging Heaton at home.

A win for Spen could lift them out of the relegation places altogether if Mirfield lose at home to champions elect Pud-sey Congs.

East Bierley and Idle both have tough matches - Bierley at third-placed Woodlands, and Idle at fourth-placed Cleck-heaton. Last weekend Ian Austin led a team of 20-year-olds and under, but tomorrow both Ismail Dawood and Andrew Gale are back from Yorkshire duty, and Faisal Irfan returns after injury.