Bradford & Bingley’s director of rugby Martin Whitcombe is hoping that their hastily-arranged festive home derby against Keighley on Sunday (2.15) won’t be the last.

The game, which will help both sides shake off some of their winter cobwebs, is a throwback to Christmas or New Year fixtures between the derby rivals which stopped in the 1990s when rugby union became more concerned with professionalism than traditions.

The Bees haven’t played since December 11, when they thrashed Rochdale 67-12 in National League Three North – the same day that Keighley last trod the turf, defeating Bradford Salem 25-10 in Yorkshire Division One at Rose Cottage.

Whitcombe said: “We need to get back to playing derby matches at Christmas and New Year.

“Clubs need the revenue, and people want to get out of their houses and watch them.

“Rugby union is going back to what it used to be because of the recession and I also see it is a way of building bridges between the local clubs, which is something else that needs to happen.”

Bradford & Bingley will give debuts to former Skipton half-back Grant Litt and hooker James Brown, while former Ilkley and Aireborough No 8 Stewart Brewer should also start in a team that mixes newcomers with first-team fringe players and second-teamers.

Former Keighley player and coach Whitcombe said: “Grant, who is a Kiwi, has played at a much higher level than this and is a seasoned professional.

“I know him from when I was in charge at Skipton and he has played for Bath and Wasps at second-team level. He can play at either 9 or 10.

“Stewart, who is a lovely lad, has been held back by injury and it will be good to see him starting.

“Yorkshire Under-20 player Aiden Scully will be playing at full back as well.”

Keighley are without second-rower Dave Lister and full back Danny McGee but otherwise will be fielding as strong a side as possible as, like the Bees, they try to make the transition back to league rugby on January 8 as seamless as possible.

Head coach Graeme Sheffield said: “This is a very important game given how few matches we have played recently.”

What would have been a two-week Christmas break has come on the back of three postponements in four matches for Keighley, while the Bees have had two of their last three games scrubbed.

Sheffield added: “We are without Dave Lister and Danny McGee and a couple of the younger lads but we will be fielding as strong a side as possible and have 12 out of our likely starting 15 for our next league match.”

Also in the Keighley squad is former Cougar and Bees back Marco Ferrazano, as well as another Wagon Lane old boy in Dave Pullen.

Keighley squad: A Balderstone, A Brown, S Dyson, M Ferrazano, L Uren, J Anson, S Walker; O Sugden, L Sugden, W Armitage, G Fletcher, P Sinfield, I Buckley, S Inman, D Pullen, T Lowther, N Thornton.