Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League: Captain Martin Hood claims Redcar are not getting carried away despite being hot on the heels of leaders Guisborough.

Just eight points separate the teams as the Seasiders attempt to win the championship for the first time since 1992.

"Yes, we are in a good position but there are still an awful lot of points to play for and as I see it, the leading positions could change before the end of the season," said Hood ahead of his side's difficult match at Richmondshire today.

Although he refused to make a prediction as to who will become champions, Hood acknowledged that he was 'over the moon' at the team's performances this year.

"We are competitive and try and keep every game as tight as possible giving little away. On paper, our strength lies in the batting but the bowlers have done really well and overall, it has been a big team effort.

"Last week's match at Middlesbrough was a good example of everybody chipping in. We lost four wickets for just 30 runs, but topped over 200 when Neil Russell, Graham Bowen and Andy Hassack performed admirably."

Hood paid particular tribute to Dulip Samaraweera, now in his third season with the club. "He has about 750 runs and 30 wickets and with nine games to go he could well top 1,000 runs," enthused Hood.

Today, Redcar show three changes with Andy Weatherall, Martin Reeves and Shaun McGarry taking over from Mally Whitehead, Mick McCabe and Darren Nalton.

Richmondshire professional Shanoka Dissanayake is also enjoying a good summer during his first season in the league and his efforts have helped the side into fifth position - their highest rating for some time.

They are unchanged today and victory could propel them into fourth place.

Leaders Guisborough, aiming to win the championship for the third successive year, meet Hartlepool at Park Drive. They too retain the same XI which saw off the challenge from Blackhall with ease last Saturday.

Pool though are forced into making a couple of changes since Jack Wilkinson and Kevin Peak are both unavailable so Chris Harrison and Chris Suttill step up from the second XI.

Saltburn, who clinched the Kerridge Cup defeating Darlington RA last Sunday, have another double weekend. After today's visit to Darlington RA, they meet Middlesbrough tomorrow in the final of the MacMillan Cup.

A blow to their chances of keeping in touch with the leading pair is the absence of injured duo John Wyatt and John Bond, who suffered a recurrence of an injury during the pre-match warm-up last Saturday.

"It is another big weekend for the club. We have won one cup and have the chance to do the treble but unfortunately neither John Wyatt nor I can play this weekend," said Bond.

Following their commendable performance in holding high-flying Bishop Auckland to a draw last weekend, Darlington RA captain David Eckles announces that an unchanged line-up will be on duty at Brinkburn Road.

Bishop Auckland go to Blackhall hoping to consolidate fourth position. Richard Hawthorne continues to go from strength-to-strength and he needs just 40 runs to complete 1,000 in the league.

The Colliers show a couple of alterations with Ricky Darwin and Philip Bell coming in for David Brown and David Penman who drop down into the second team.

Bottom-of-the-table Normanby Hall improved their chances of avoiding the drop when Mohamed Zahid took nine wickets in last week's win over Northallerton.

Today, Marske are the visitors as Hall field a stronger line-up with the inclusion of Talib Ramzan and Roy Myers, who take over from Joe Bell and Mel Sykes. Marske are unchanged.

Thornaby, who are second off the basement visit third-bottom Middlesbrough in what is a crucial match for both clubs. Matt Dex resumes for Thornaby, who will have Michael Muldowney keeping wicket while Boro line up former captain Danny Evans and Brett Roberts.

Darlington will surely miss Simon Guy, who is playing for Yorkshire and Duncan Johnson. Their replacements at Northallerton are Richard Biddle and Kevin Motts.

It is all change for the home side whose captain Ian Gill reports that David Wake, Ian Place, Albert Aurelius and Richard Chandler are named ahead of Peter Wilkinson, Dan Luck, Roger Mackerel and Darren Pavin.

The big match in Division One is that between Wolviston and Billingham Synthonia.

Although 43 points separate the sides, victory for Billingham could put them in with a chance of clinching promotion since they have a game in hand on their rivals.

Second-top Seaton Carew meet fourth-placed Great Ayton in another game which could have a bearing on who goes up.