A KEIGHLEY v BRADFORD SALEM derby doesn’t normally need any extra build up.

However, there will be an added edge on Saturday when the Yorkshire Division One rivals meet at Rose Cottage.

Former Salem skipper James Cunliffe and No 8 Rob Baldwin, who was expected to join Salem when he left Wharfedale (his father-in-law Jimmy Child is on Salem’s committee) but instead followed his mate to Utley, are both expected to be in Keighley’s side.

“It certainly gives it added spice,” says Salem’s first-team manager Neil Klenk.

Salem will be without revitalised former England international Dan Scarbrough due to school-teaching duties, and are also missing back-rower Jamie Booth.

However, they welcome back centre Connor Malarkey and hand a debut to former Bradford Grammar pupil Dom Bailey at lock, and switch Andy Robinson to fly half and Harry Hall to centre.

The derby will not be played on Keighley’s new artificial grass pitch (AGP).

That was due to be laid on Monday, but weather delays mean that it is now due to be ready for another derby against Heath on September 30.

The match will instead be played on Keighley’s second-team pitch.

Salem, who have had to cancel a training session on the new pitch last night, have mirrored Keighley's results this season, losing 25-18 at Hullensians on the first weekend before seeing off visitors Moortown 23-3 last Saturday, while Keighley went down 36-21 at Scarborough before triumphing 17-14 at Selby.

Keighley's director of rugby Russell Gibson said: "Salem had a very good result at the weekend and it should be a good contest.

"Not playing on the AGP is a little bit of a disruption, but not much as we play on grass the rest of the time anyway.

"However, although we won last weekend and gave an improved display, we are not firing on all cylinders."

Keighley hope to have three-quarters Alfie Seeley (knee) and Jack Atkinson (ankle) back in the mix, and must decide whether to throw in experienced back-rower Hamish Pratt in from the start.

But Gibson said: "I don't know whether Hamish's legs will last 80 minutes, and he brings so much as an impact player off the bench."

Keighley also have injury doubts over Shaun Minikin (shoulder), centre Adam Horsfall (hamstring) and Stuart Inman (knee), and they have others who are likely to play but are carrying knocks.

Keighley RUFC's chairman Sam Griffin, meanwhile, admitted that it will be a push to get the AGP ready for the end of the month.

He said: "It has been delayed by the weather as it has to be bone dry for the last two layers to be put down.

"Then it has to be tested by a laboratory and the results sent back to the RFU, who then have to give it the okay.

"Then we can use it but others can't until we get an international certificate."

OLD GROVIANS, still seeking their first victory of the season in Yorkshire Division Two, have Matt Worrall, Ross Bannatyne, Jack Hartley and Harry Garforth back in contention for the home match against unbeaten Goole, who have scored 119 points in two matches.

BAILDON promote Matt Withers to fly half and include colt Hayden Peers on the wing for their Yorkshire Division Three home match against Northallerton.

WIBSEY, who have announced that Chris Clough has gone to Halifax in order to start coaching duties, welcome back Jon Nall, Luke Helliwell and Marcus Grimes for the Yorkshire Division Four North West home clash with Thirsk.

Bradford Salem (at Keighley): D Belcher; H Brown, C Malarkey, H Hall, R Smith; A Robinson, M Booth; T O’Sullivan, S Markey, G Griekis, J Morrell, D Bailey, C Wood, C Baines, C Manchester. Replacements from: A Veitch, M Darragh, S Gardner, J White, J Callendar.

Baildon (home to Northallerton): M Robinson; H Peers, H Strauss, L Hope-Robertson, D Fletcher; A Hewitt, H Fojt, J Robinson, G Price, R Cordingley, D Padgett, D Cookson, J Strauss. Replacements: C Peel, J Bull, N King, TBC.

Wibsey (home to Thirsk) from: J Brown, K Carter, D Wilkinson, D Carr, M Kite, R Hall, S Foulds, A Rose, S Birkbeck, B Wright, J Cull, L Wilson, B Mpofu, R Greenwood, J Nall, L Helliwell, M Grimes, A Cerson, D Hartley.