This weekend's final fixtures have added spice as the mid table teams are chasing top four places to make the play-offs next month, with the local Cleveland derby between Tennis World Middlesbrough and David Lloyd Teesside the most crucial encounter of all.

But a large spoonful of sugar was recently thrown into the mixture when it was learned that the current second placed team in the Northern Division, Next Generation York, had already been provided with a valid card exemption from qualifying for stage two in the nationwide competition, as hosts for the national finals in late March and would not need to play through the regional play-off.

So two places are available for the play-off instead of the one expected, for leaders Esporta Sunderland and third placed David Lloyd Newcastle cannot be caught.

David Lloyd Teesside stand fourth and Tennis World Middlesbrough are fifth, each with 12 points from the six fixtures already contested, the former having three wins to the latter's two. A tight match in Marton is anticipated, neither side as yet being very consistent in the league.

Sixth placed Ripon, also with 12 points, have their own chance of progressing. They travel to Newcastle, however, and the David Lloyd team there has a good home record. But a whitewash win by either of the protagonists on Teesside might let them in. Puma Sunderland, in seventh position take on neighbours defending champions Esporta and if the form book is true would expect to get nothing from this local Wearside derby; so they have only an outside chance of making a play-off spot.

The recent 3-1 away win by David Lloyd Teesside at Ripon particularly set up a finishing climax to the Northern Division as the last fixtures are contested this weekend. Their unexpected success pushed them from seventh place in the table to fourth and provided the opportunity to occupy a play-off position.