KNOWING what your side is from one week to the next is far from an exact science – just ask Bradford Salem chairman Neil Klenk or Old Grovians’ coach Andy Hinchliffe.

Klenk, buoyed by Salem’s fine 29-24 Yorkshire Division One home win over Leodiensian last week, was looking forward to tomorrow’s trip to Pontefract.

He said: “We are playing well, confidence is high and I was thinking that if we could keep this team together we will finish in the top half of the table.”

Fat chance. Klenk added: “It is typical of this division that when you start to get a bit of momentum a lot of your players aren’t available.

“Hooker Ed Cook turned his ankle on the Otley Run last weekend, Dom Bailey is also injured and prop Jordan Ashworth is at Murrayfield watching Scotland v England.”

Pontefract may be 12th to Salem’s eighth but the former have won their last two home matches, and Klenk said: “Ponte are no mugs and will test our squad strength.

“They may have lost 52-19 last week at Heath but they won 12-7 at Beverley last month.”

At least centre Sam Dunn and prop Joe Kvedas are back for the visitors, with Klenk saying that the latter has been kept under wraps by the second team!

Old Grovians, who are seventh in Yorkshire Division Two, have little option but to go for a big side for their home match against bottom-of-the-table West Leeds, who won 15-11 at Thornensians last weekend.

Hinchliffe explained: “We have 32 players unavailable for tomorrow but have eight props available, two of whom will be playing in the centres!

“Last week in the 31-13 loss at Ripon we had to field four 18-year-olds from Woodhouse Grove School, but it is good to have that link back with the school, which we lost for a while.

“You could see how well coached the four lads were and there are former Grove pupils who are now playing at Otley, Wharfedale, Harrogate and Sandal who have promised that they will come back to us at a later stage of their playing careers.

“We may get two or three back but it would nicer to get five or six back. If two or three come back there may be a domino effect and more will join them.”

Keighley, who will be playing in Yorkshire Division Two if they are relegated, are at Selby, who have won seven of their nine home matches in 2019-20, while the Utley side have won only one of their eight away matches (Pontefract).

Match of the day is in North One East at Cleckheaton, with the second-placed club welcoming leaders York.

Cleck surprisingly lost last weekend 20-19 at West Hartlepool but their rugby chairman Neil Gillan admitted: “Selection was a headache this week.

“Everyone is available and three players from last week’s squad have been dropped to the second XV as a result.

“We have gone for a more dynamic side as we are expecting York to play a high-tempo game.”

Cleck, who had won their previous six matches before last weekend, have won eight out of nine at home this season, while York have won eight out of nine away, only losing their opening away match 22-18 at Driffield.

Seventh-placed Bradford & Bingley - who were hammered 65-0 at York last week - host 12th-placed Durham City, who have yet to win away from home this campaign, having drawn one and lost six.

Baildon hope to maintain 'fortress' Jenny Lane when they play Hemsworth in Yorkshire Division Three.

The third-placed hosts have won all seven of their home matches, while 11th-placed Hemsworth have won only two away matches.

Wibsey, who are seventh, are at home to 10th-placed Sheffield Medicals, who have yet to break their away duck.