Following a three-year stint with Blackhall, West Indian all-rounder Imran Jan makes his debut for Guisborough who begin their defence of the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division championship at Hartlepool.

David Towse has reverted to amateur status and Guisborough hope he will spearhead their attack and prove as economical as he has done helping the side to three successive titles.

One player Guisborough will not have to fear today is Steve Chapman who has made the move from Hartlepool to Darlington. He plays his first game against newly-promoted Great Ayton whose new professional Sri Lankan Milan Gunaratne is not available today.

Darlington RA go to Blackhall without newly-appointed professional Wilden Cornwall who is expected to arrive next week from the Leeward Islands. The Colliers are more fortunate since Mohamed Fazal, who was with Marske last season, has flown in from Pakistan.

In Division One, considerable interest will be centred on Marton who have signed arguably one of the best batsmen in the League in Graham Shaw who has played for Guisborough in recent seasons.

Ironically, they play their initial game at Fountains Garth where Mark Foster, who has returned from Middlesbrough and Mike Catchpole, formerly with Marske, could make their debuts.

Former Durham County player Marc Symington will captain Norton for the first time in the Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League game against Gateshead Fell.

He will be joined in the side by brother Craig and Nicky Beall and Keith Hewson, who have returned from Peterlee.

A boost to the chances of Norton is the absence of the free-scoring Marcus North from the Gateshead Fell line-up. He is on loan to Durham County but Fell have named former Durham spinner Nicky Phillips.

Stockton host Philadelphia and are pleased that Richard Waite is available. Phili show a number of changes with West Indian Fernix Thomas joined in the line-up by Durham University students Simon Hollingsworth and Ed Crowther .

Durham County's James Lowe also makes his debut. With wicket keeper Phil Empson unavailable, Berwick Hall is given a chance.

The Readers Durham County League champions Evenwood begin with a home fixture against last season's wooden spoonists Shildon. Deighton Butler is back for another season but captain Craig Rutherford is sidelined through injury and the team will be led by Paul Watson.

Gavin Swan will lead Kimblesworth's attack against Sedgefield who miss Namibian Stephan Swanepoel. His arrival has been delayed because he is playing for his country. Peter Rivers, a Newcastle University student, plays his first game.

In the Durham Coast League an important first-day fixture is between champions Murton and fancied Ryhope. Murton have lost strike bowler Joe Dodd while Ryhope are boosted by the signing of league captain David Hanson who will probably open the batting with prolific run-maker Graeme Anderson.

Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League champions Lanchester have this week signed South African Wallace Albertwn but he has not been registered in time to face newly-promoted Benwell and Walbottle.