BRADFORD and Bingley are still on the hunt for their first victory of the campaign and this weekend a fearsome derby fixture awaits them.

They host arch-rivals Cleckheaton on Saturday, and despite their below-par start to the season, they know all form goes out of the window when derby day arrives.

B&B are at the foot of the table, but they are on the up following a difficult start, especially

because they had to deal with several pressing issues such as player availability.

But a game against Cleck is something the players and manager, Hugh Gumbs, are relishing.

Gumbs said: “The derby factor does give us that added incentive to get a victory. We are underdogs going in there but for a lot of our players, it’s their first taste of a derby.

“It’s going to be very exciting to see how they respond to that experience and it’s going to be a great learning curve for them boys.

“I’ve been a part of many Cleckheaton and Bradford derbies, and form doesn’t really come into this game, so there will be a number of factors that contribute to this kind of fixture.

“The weather plays a part, whether it’s sleeting or raining, the mentality of the players when they get out of bed also plays a part and there is just the sheer emotion of going into a derby and whether the players are really up for it.

“And that’s what is so exciting about this weekend. I just don’t know what is going to happen, that’s what is so great about rugby but even more so when derby day comes along.

“For everybody, I believe this weekend will be full of spice and will give the chance to a lot of these players to be involved in an exciting experience."

Gumbs added: "What makes it even more interesting is that we have a lot of local boys who will favour playing in this sort of environment for the first time.

"When I first started playing at Bradford and Bingley, there were a lot of local men involved with the team who came through the colts, and we have managed to get that back again.

"If we can continue doing that, then this team is going to be in a really positive position for number of years.

"It's about looking at what we have got and what we have got in this derby is a lot of local players who are loyal to the club, and I think that's fantastic to watch.

"The fact that there will be a lot making their debuts in the derby on Saturday is just really exciting for the club as a whole, not just for now but for the club's future.

"We know it's going to be a very challenging game. Their side has been together longer, they know their game plan and they are a big and strong uni.

"They will be certainly going into it as favourites but we must combat their strengths."