Federation Special Durham Senior League: The place to be this afternoon is Hetton Lyons. There is no question that the match of the day billing is this encounter against Boldon. It has all the ingredients of an intriguing fixture.

Both teams have the same points at the top along with Burnmoor who appear to have the easiest task with home advantage over Seaham Harbour.

The Hetton Lyons-Boldon fixture sees two of the league's top professionals facing each other.

For Hetton Gerry Strydom continues to murder anything less than accurate bowling. One of his few failures to date was at Boldon earlier when he was one of Gareth Smith's five victims.

On that occasion Smith stole the limelight over professional Orlanzo Jackson, but the West Indian is now the league's leading wicket taker.

His duel with Strydom adds further spice to the game which sees Iain Young return to replace Oliver Douthwaite for Boldon.

Hetton Lyons expect David Naunton back from injury. With Graeme Martin and Graham Hoban unavailable Keith Ibinson fills the other vacancy. Doubts surround the fitness of Ian Male though who had to withdraw from the attack at Felling last week.

South Shields will be looking for improvement in their batting. Their dismissal for just 26 last week was their lowest score ever in the Durham Senior League, the previous being 27 against Philadelphia in 1910.

Skipper John Dunn is aware of what is required. "We must knuckle down, concentrate more and accept greater individual responsibility."

Shields have Jamie Moore and Richard Pack replacing Chris Nichol and Bobby Scorer against Eppleton.

There are also changes to the Eppleton side. With Andrew Summerbell and Umar Akhtar set to resume Anthony Anderson and Elliott Hughes drop into the second XI. Scott Borthwick, 14, is given a debut game today.

Joint leaders Burnmoor expect to field and unchanged side against Seaham Harbour. Maximum points today with the other top two engaged against one another, is a priority. The Harbour also need points to keep a gap between Durham City and themselves.

Durham entertain Marsden, who will be looking for a repeat score of when the sides met earlier. Bowler Dave Chamley starred then when City were skittled out and he is included in the Marsden side that won last week. They make just one change with David Wills replacing Neil Heppell. City have Colin Myers and Nick Jones back in their ranks.

South Hetton opening batsman Bobby Steel misses the home game with Horden which immediately gives Horden a better chance. Horden will be hoping Adrian Hedley is fit to resume his normal position in the batting order.

Whitburn run machines, Chris Ellison and Ashley Thorpe, could continue their rich pickings again this afternoon.

Felling provide the opposition and with Ellison and Thorpe in such fine form they would do well to remove at least one of them cheaply. Michael Smith and Andy Turns are back for Whitburn replacing the unavailable Ian Elliott while Paul Marshall returns to the Seconds.