The stamina and depth of the Bees’ squad will be well and truly put to the test in the coming fortnight, with three games – two league and a cup semi-final - in eight days.

The first of these fixtures sees the Bees welcome old friends and local rivals Old Halesonians to Portway this Saturday (24th March, KO 3pm). This is also the rescheduled Ladies' Day.

Old Hales have had a torrid time to say the least this season. Already destined for relegation, the Wassell Grove outfit have won just one game in 22 outings – ironically their sole victory came against the only side to have defeated the Bees this season, Sandbach.

They have conceded 1,311 points – 100 of accounted for in the 0-100 home defeat against the Bees in late November - and have scored just 231 points in those 22 games. Although not quite yet turning the corner, recent results have been much improved. Aside from the 21-17 victory against Sandbach, they clearly put up a good fight away at Peterborough Lions last weekend, losing 59-15.

For their part, Birmingham & Solihull will be hopeful of continuing their march towards the automatic promotion spot, with just five games now remaining on the league fixture list and still 11 points clear of Peterborough in second place, with a game also in hand.

A good showing in some very challenging weather conditions against Doncaster Phoenix a week ago secured another 5 points, to add to the win against Nuneaton the previous weekend.

As things stand, the Bees are now just two bonus point wins away from being crowned champions. Indeed, should a bonus point win against Old Hales be secured and the Lions defeated up at Sandbach without both bonus points notched up, the league could, in fact, be wrapped up come 5pm on Saturday.

The pragmatism of the Glackin/Pearl coaching duo means that any such thoughts will be set aside for now. They know that Old Hales have everything to gain and nothing to lose and will be up for the local derby. There are also a number of changes to the side that put the Phoenix to the sword at a snowy Portway last weekend.

In the front row, Charley Robinson is set to make his debut at hooker, with Matt Probert also starting at a tighthead. The return of Umraan Jadwat at No.8 sees Marcus Brown switch to the openside, with Michael Stephens on the bench. Also wearing the sub suits bare Zane Raimondi and Harry O’Brien, with Ben Phillips taking the No.15 shirt and Jimmy Oliver slotting in at outside centre.

The Hornets are in action this weekend too, with an away fixture at Wassell Grove against Old Hales 2nds in the Midlands Reserve League (KO 3pm)

Following Saturday’s game, there is another local derby in prospect for the Bees at Portway in the shape of the North Midlands Cup Semi Final tie against Bromsgrove on Thursday evening (29th March, KO 7.30pm, entrance free). This is followed in rapid succession by another home league game against Newport Salop on Easter Saturday (31st March KO 3pm).

Bees squad v Old Halesonians (H, 3.00pm KO): - 1. Joe Foreman, 2. Charley Robinson, 3. Matt Probert, 4. Danny Wright, 5. Matt Spink, 6. Ashley Scriven, 7. Marcus Brown, 8. Umraan Jadwat, 9. Jack Jolly © 10. Max Rodman, 11. Steve Johns, 12. Nathan Tilsley, 13. Jimmy Oliver, 14. Tawanda Chipadza, 15. Ben Phillips, 16. Zane Raimondi, 17. Michael Stephens & 18. Harry O’Brien

Referee: - Jake Hill

Hornets Squad v Old Halesonians 2nds (A, 3.00pm KO):1. Tom Greevy, 2. George Radburn, 3. Harry Smith, 4. Harry Barnes, 5. Keanan Cooper, 6. Jacob Lisle, 7. Sam Allen, 8. Chris Thompson ©, 9. Jack Secher, 10. Tyler Price, 11. Tom Johnson, 12. Sean O’Sullivan, 13. Sonny Young, 14. Matt Dight, 15. Ben Cooper, 16. Harry Jackson, 17. Nathan Bewley, 18. Cameron May, 19. Matti Collier, 20. Diaba