Durham Senior League: With a double header over the weekend there will be an opportunity to dent the records of the four unbeaten sides in the league. Two of them, Whitburn and Horden, meet on the former's ground this afternoon. To add spice to this game Whitburn have already seen off their opponents in a recent cup tie and in Ashley Thorpe and Nadeem Khan there will be a battle between two of the best professionals in the league

Both have started the season in quiet fashion. However, Thorpe's quality with the bat and Khan's bowling record over several summers is well known and their performances could be the key to the result. Whitburn are able to have an unchanged side.

Horden though are forced into two changes. Stephen Edwards and Steve McCoy miss the game and Paul Patterson and Ian Blevins are included. Marsden, after losing their first two games, have been unbeaten in the last three. Today they entertain Eppleton and make one change. Andrew Doherty is out of the side and Andrew Potts resumes. Potts was a regular senior player last summer and has been scoring plenty of runs in the second team.

There is a basement fixture at Durham City who entertain Felling. Both teams have the same number of points at present and Felling make just one change. All rounder David Coulson, who had an unbeaten half-century last week, is not available and Malcolm Norman fills the vacancy.

Burnmoor entertain Hetton Lyons who hit the top score of the day last week. Lyons professional Gerry Strydom has made a great start to the season and currently averages 84 from his five innings.

Another purposeful innings today could post a problem to the Moors remaining in pole position tonight.

Burnmoor also hold an ace in their batting department. South African professional Mark Benfield ended with an average of 82 last season and so the game points to plenty of runs if the two professionals stay long enough at the wicket.

Wicket keeper Alec Linsley and Mark Robson are not available. John Tindale returns and Neil Parkins fills the other vacancy for Burnmoor.

Hetton Lyons are still without pace bowler Des Beach who misses out against his former club. Tom Nixon and Graeme Martin are also unavailable. The Lyons bring in Keith Ibinson and Ian Male is set to resume. Pace bowler David Naunton, who played in the second XI last week, is also included today.

Seaham Harbour, looking for their first win, travel to South Hetton. Regrettably the Harbour will be minus Neil Swainston who looks to be sidelined for sometime with a knee injury. With Paul Snaith also out Scott Sherriff and Duncan Lorraine are promoted.

South Shields, so far unbeaten, face a testing game at home to neighbours Boldon. The Shields line-up remains the same as last week while Boldon are forced into one change. Oliver Douthwaite comes in for Jamie Priestley.