Darlington RA aim to complete a double over four-times champions Guisborough when they meet for the second time within a week at Brinkburn Road tomorrow.

And skipper Phil Crowther will have a replacement professional in his line-up following the midweek signing of Pakistani Ashar Zaidi.

He said: "Rethinder Sodhi was forced to return to India last week with a back problem, but he could return to us within three weeks. In the meantime I'm delighted to have Zaidi on board.

"He played in the Huddersfield League last season, scoring more than 1,600 runs, and is living with his family in London so he was readily available."

Graeme Hird is also named against Guisborough with Nigel Whaley and Peter Eckels dropping down into the second XI.

Guisborough, beaten twice last weekend, are forced into making their first change of the season since wicketkeeper Graeme Wrightson is unable to play. His place is filled by the promotion of Chris Trillo.

Billingham Synthonia's recent signing Keith Hewson is unavailable for the home game with Redcar, as is Vinod Nair, but Dave Fairley and Gary Burgum both resume. Redcar name an unchanged team.

Darlington visit Richmondshire with Lee Craggs coming in for Duncan Johnson and Mark Layfield is included in the home side's team.

Ian Plaice replaces his brother John in the Northallerton side at home to Normanby Hall. A further change sees John Sample taking over from Richard Chandler. The Hall also show alterations with Neil Pearson and Eddie Rosa replacing Rashad Rashid and Geoff Robinson.

Middlesbrough host leaders Saltburn and, with James Beaumont sidelined, Raf Rashid is included in a strong line-up.

Marske, with two wins under their belts last weekend, are pleased to announce an unchanged line-up at home to Bishop Auckland and Great Ayton are another side happy to rely on the same team for their home fixture with Hartlepool.

Saltburn moved to the top of the table for the first time this season when they convincingly won both their holiday matches.

On Saturday, Darlington RA were bowled out for only 125 and, on Monday, Hartlepool fared even worse, managing only 69. Singh was in outstanding form on both days, taking a total of 11 wickets for a combined cost of only 52 runs.

Against RA, Saltburn batted first and posted 250-4 before declaring after only 45 overs. Ditta top-scored with an unbeaten 67 which included eight boundaries, while both Phil Ramage and Mahmood Fazal passed the 40 mark.

Guisborough, who began the weekend unbeaten and in pole position, surprisingly lost both fixtures. They were shocked by bottom-of-the-table Richmondshire, who realised 202-6 at Fountains Garth as Mark Layfield (51) and Shanoka Dissanayake (42) laid the foundations before skipper Andy Mollitt weighed in with a useful 41.

Dissanayake then became the match-winner with the ball, taking 5-63, and Guisborough were back in the pavilion for 181.

Guisborough went down by four wickets to Darlington RA on Monday. Graeme Murray (53) and Imran Jan (34) took the total to 172-8 with Andrew Russell and Stuart Morgan sharing the wickets for RA, who secured the necessary runs for the loss of six wickets.

Captain Phil Crowther scored 51 and Paul Freary 35 and, despite David Towse returning 5-61, Guisborough lost for the second time in three days.

Bishop Auckland are up to third despite losing to Normanby Hall on Saturday. Runs were in short supply and, after the Hall had made 136, including 40 by Lee Sykes and a similar score from David Cross, Bishops were all out for only 110. Ahmed had figures of 6-36 and Zahid 4-38 for the Hall, who played Bishops again on Monday.

This time, Bishops were in the ascendancy as the match ended in a draw with Normanby Hall 109-9 replying to the Bishops total of 225-4, which included a century by Amul Mazumdar. Ahmed was the Hall's saviour as he carried his bat for 30.

Marske moved into fourth place with victories over Billingham Synthonia and Northallerton. Richie Rennard took 4-24 in 13 overs, five of which were maidens, restricting Synners to 141-7.

Marske were in trouble at 50-6, but Gary Lynch came to the rescue, hitting one six and eight boundaries in an unbeaten 70 to lead his side to a four-wicket victory.

In Monday's fixture, Marske overtook the Northallerton total of 149-9 with seven wickets remaining. Rob Nicol (56) and Ryan Lazenby (35no) were the match-winners with the bat.

Darlington defeated Northallerton by 73 runs before being held to a draw by Middlesbrough.

Neil Pratt top-scored with 85 and Phil Raine and Steve Chapman both took four wickets in the first game, while on Monday, Gary Moody top-scored with 46 out of a total of 185-9 before Boro replied with 138-8. Chapman again claimed four wickets.