THE most curious thing about BRADFORD & BINGLEY'S bid for promotion from North One East is that it is being sustained by as many as eight changes per week.

"We have had six changes for the past five weeks, and the most we have had this season is eight," said Bees' secretary Nick Patterson.

"Last week at Wheatley Hills we had eight players unavailable who would probably have made our match-day 18."

All this chopping and changing, which has been due to injuries, work commitments, weddings and watching the autumn internationals in the flesh, has made it difficult for players to get used to a partner in the front row, second row, back row, half-back or centres, but it doesn't seem to have affected Bradford & Bingley's ability to win.

They have triumphed in their last six matches to climb to fifth in the table, only five points behind leaders West Hartlepool, but now enter a crucial phase either side of Christmas where they meet the current top four, starting with second-placed Penrith at home on Saturday.

Back for the Bees this weekend in what is their strongest defensive line-up are lock Brett Mitchell, flankers Tom Booth and Manny Riaz, full back Ben Greaves and winger Adam Mitchell.

BRADFORD SALEM haven't had such extreme problems, but have typically have had three in and three out, and among those back this weekend is skipper Andy Robinson at fly half.

They are at home to Acklam in Yorkshire Division One, watched by Yorkshire RFU president Ray Kelly, who is also an Acklam member.

Salem, who have won three of their last four to climb to seventh, are without the suspended Conor Wood and the injured Louis Chaudron (shoulder) and Harry Hall (knee).

OTLEY are hoping to unleash some of their game-breakers at Leicester Lions in National League Two North.

"We have players in our back-line who can create havoc," admitted Otley's director of rugby Peter Clegg, "but we also have players in the pack who can do damage, such as Freddie Watson, but is more about the team as a whole than individuals."

However, Watson is likely to be missing for a few weeks with a fractured thumb.

OLD GROVIANS, who emerged with a losing bonus point from their 20-17 home defeat against Old Crossleyans last weekend in Yorkshire Division Two, may be tempted to throw Danny Secker straight back into the mix at home to Barnsley, despite him only just having arrived back from Australia.

BAILDON are hoping to concentrate for 80 minutes in their latest Yorkshire Division Three derby at home to Old Modernians, having lost their focus for the last 15 mninutes at Aireborough last weekend.

CLECKHEATON must hope that their 66-17 defeat at home to unbeaten leaders Huddersfield hasn't affected their confidence as they travel to Wirral in National League Three North.

Bradford & Bingley (home to Penrith): B Greaves; A Sutcliffe,D Copsey, S Oosthuizen, A Mitchell; G Nortier, L Neha; S White, M Akauola, R Wederell, H Jeffrey, B Mitchell, M Riaz, T Cummins, T Booth. Replacements: R Raper, M Mountain, N Gore.

Bradford Salem (home to Acklam): D Belcher; R Smith, M Trueman, K Brook or D Pearce, N Fontaine; A Robinson, M Booth; T O'Sullivan, A Veitch, J Bradbury, J Cunliffe, J Morrell, E Perkins, C Baines, C Manchester. Replacements from: Brook or Pearce, W Collins, A Brar, B Whitaker.