Fylde travel to Wagon Lane on Saturday (ko 15.00) to take on Bradford & Bingley, one of the most inconsistent teams in National Three (North) this season. The Lancastrians, 3rd placed in the division, will be looking for their fifth successive victory, and only their fifth win away from the Woodlands all season. The Bees have been in somewhat of a bad patch of late, conceding more than 50 points in three of their last four fixtures against Nuneaton, Leicester Lions and Preston Grasshoppers. But if the previous game between the two teams at the Woodlands in December is anything to go by then the Bees will prove to be doughty opponents. That day Fylde came out on top but it was a hard fought 28-7 victory.

Bradford must a very frustrating team to support. Magnificent wins at high flying Macclesfield and Leicester Lions, and a heroic last minute defeat by leaders Nuneaton earlier in the season, were followed by disappointing home defeats by mid-table Loughborough Students and Preston Grasshoppers. A substantial injury list hasn't helped their cause. The Bees are in 12th position, one place above the relegation places, but appear safe as they are well clear of Darlington Mowden Park in 13th place. 

The Bees have had a yo-yo record in recent seasons. They were outstanding champions of N3N in 2005/6 but found it hard to make the step up to National Two and were relegated at the end of their first season. Their 2005/6 squad included several talented South Sea Islanders and two outstanding South African forwards but they went into their N2 campaign with a weaker line-up as several of these players left the club at the end of their promotion campaign.

The Bees returned to N3N last season with a new coaching team and rugby management arrangements. The experienced former Yorkshire, English Counties, Leicester Tigers, Gloucester & Rotherham flanker Neil Spence is now Head Coach, as well as being a regular player, and has been joined in the coaching team by senior player and utility back Stuart Dixon. Both also work as RFU community coaches.

New summer recruits included centres Liam Frost, James McBirnie (both from Ilkley), Dan Sanders (Leeds Carnegie) & UCLAN student and back five forward Liam Sharpe. More recent recruits include Cook Islands international 7s and RL player, backrower Aaron Enoka, who has had disciplinary difficulties of late, and Keighley Cougars RL centre Karl Smith.

Danger men in the Bees back line include free scoring former Yorkshire & English Counties winger Mark Kirkby (ex-Orrell, Leeds Tykes & Wakefield), Yorkshire county scrum-half Joe Bartlett, centre Karl Smith and the influential Benny Greaves who has missed much of the season through injury.

The strong Bees pack includes highly experienced prop Rob Wilson, locks Richard Hughes & Steve Burns and backrowers Dave Ford, Ian Judson & player-coach Neil Spence.

The principal goal kicker is fly-half Steve Brimacombe who has 116 points to date, with Liam Frost leading try scorer on nine.

For Fylde, centre Richard Kenyon replaces David Wiseman who is troubled by an ankle injury. Wiseman is named amongst the replacements along with Steve Nutt and Ben Hall, two of whom will be selected on Saturday depending on fitness checks. Highly promising 18 year old scrum-half James Smith would have been amongst the extended squad but pulled a hamstring in a midweek college game.

In the forwards, Sam Beaumont moves up to the 2nd row, with Dave Wilks starting once more in the backrow. Kieran Brookes has 7s commitments with Kirkham Grammar School so Andrew Irving starts at tighthead with Ted Scott stepping up to the bench.

15 Martin Wallwork; 14 Nick Royle, 13 Richard Kenyon, 12 Tom Albinson, 11 Oliver Brennand; 10 Neil Hunter, 9 Craig Aikman (c); 1 Adam Lewis, 2 Alan Holmes, 3 Andrew Irving, 4 Sam Beaumont, 5 Alistair Atkinson, 6 Dan Palmer, 7 Dave Wilks, 8 Dan Bowman.

Replacements: 16 Ted Scott, 17 Mark Stephenson, 18 Grant Ferguson, 19/20 Steve Nutt or David Wiseman or Ben Hall.