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Just three points separate the top four of Easy Bierley, Pudsey St Lawrence, Baildon and Bradford and Bingley, with Bierley leading the way - with Congs 52 points behind the frontrunners in fifth.

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While reducing that deficit represents a tall order for Congs, who won the league five times in succession from 2000-04, no-one is throwing in the towel yet.

And Middlebrook insists anyone who writes off Congs' prospects does so at their peril.

This weekend sees a top-flight double-header and the state of the table come tomorrow evening could have a different complexion, with Congs aiming to put the heat on the top four with victories at home to Saltaire today and at relegation-haunted Hanging Heaton tomorrow.

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On whether they are out of the title race, Middlebrook said: "Absolutely not.

"Our local rivals Pudsey St Lawrence have played two games more than us and we've got to play Hanging Heaton twice, without saying too much about them.

"We've all got all the top teams to play and have got some momentum and gave Yeadon a good beating recently, while we've had Richard Pyrah around. Unfortunately, he's not been playing much four-day cricket with Yorkshire, but has been available for us.

"Jeremy Batty and Glenn Roberts are spinning the ball well and with Josh Tingle, we've got some good resources. Nevermind having a sniff still, our noses are in the pot! We're confident of doing well, both the team and the captain.

"There's still 10 or 11 games to go, we've had our open days (two blank weekends) and have a clear run now and if others fold, we've a rattling good chance.

"Bierley might be top, but they will be looking at us, rather than us looking at them."

While coming up on the rails nicely, it's fair to say the season so far has been a mixed one for Congs, who have been beaten in four matches already this term, the same amount they lost in the whole of 2008, when Woodlands pipped them to the title by two points.

But Middlebrook feels things are coming together at just the right time, with the likes of overseas man Naved back in the fold.

He said: "We have now got Mohammed back and he's made an enormous difference to us. He's bowling really quick.

"We didn't have much luck in the first half of the season and had two matches abandoned for instance.

"The overseas fiasco was a severe blow, while Richard (Pyrah) didn't play in early season and we had to use Tingle and Mark Bray as our opening bowlers when they aren't really spearheads.

"Our batting also cost us a couple of games and was a bit fragile and we lost Adam Patel with a knee injury.

"But we're confident we'll be there at the end of the race.

"Saltaire and Hanging Heaton ought to be winnable games. Heaton are a bit of a mercurial side, while Saltaire are capable, although they had (Tim) Linley back at Sussex last weekend. Yet we gave them a good beating at their place.

"A feature of this season is that all the teams have been beating each other and although we didn't do that well early doors, we're still full of confidence."