Wharfedale, who are 17 points and eight places higher than derby rivals Otley in National League One, make three changes to their starting line-up at eighth-placed Redruth.

Luke Gray, whose performance from the bench in the past two matches cannot be ignored, begins at full back, Andy Hodgson moving to the centre, and James Tincknell stepping out to the wing. Simon Horsfall makes room by moving to the bench.

In the pack, farmer Neil Dickinson is unable to travel, so makes way for the increasingly impressive Adam Mason.

Chris Steel makes his first start after his recovery from last September’s injury, Mark Chivers moving to the bench.

Wharfedale (at Redruth): L Gray; J Tincknell, A Hodgson, C Malherbe, I Dixon; M Bedworth, S Cottrell; A Mason, G Hindle, C Steel, O Renton, A Allen, L Maka’afi, R Baldwin, D Solomi. Replacements: M Chivers, S Graham, R Brown, D Matthews, S Horsfall.

Bradford & Bingley are still recruting in a bid to avoid the drop from National League Two North.

Player-coach Stuart Dixon said: “We have had former Wharfedale player Dave Muckalt training with us.

“His (player-coach) contract with Blackburn has finished and he is the sort of experienced forward that we need. All he needs to do now is sort out his commitments to Giggleswick School.”

Muckalt, a No 6 or No 8 who was with Wharfedale up until last season, is not the only iron that the Bees hope will come to fruition.

Dixon added: “We have also got Sam Hobbs from Midlands One Derby. I texted him by mistake and he has come to training and has looked sharp.”

The second-from-bottom Bees, who ended in disappointing fashion last week at Leicester Lions, are at home to mid-table Fylde on Saturday and hope to have Tom Ball back at No 8.