Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League.

Philadelphia captain Andrew Roseberry is hoping his side can build on last week's unexpected success over Chester-le-Street.

Until then, Phili had managed just one victory and were in danger of being sucked into the relegation zone.

But the 29 points gained from the win has taken the pressure off significantly.

"Our difficulty has been the inability to field full strength sides and we have never turned the same XI out two weeks running," said Roseberry, who has only played three matches because of a troublesome ankle injury.

"It is a very competitive league and we could have done with our strongest squad, but you have just to get on and manage the best you can."

"I have really been in difficulties and after playing against Chester-le-Street I had to stand down from Sunday's cup tie with Sunderland because the ankle was badly swollen," added Roseberry, who also absented himself from the mid-week cup tie with Willington.

He plays today against winless Norton and so too does Lee Beaumont, who distinguished himself in the Darlington Building Society NYSD premier division last year with Middlesbrough.

Recently he has been sidelined with a broken finger and his inclusion will add variety to an attack which has been strengthened with the recent signing of Durham University student Gavin Read.

He has struck form and in two matches has claimed seven wickets at very little cost with his left-arm pace bowling.

Another student, Ben Smyth, plays only his second game today but vice-captain Graham Hoban and Shaun Smith are both sidelined.

Bottom-club Norton are strengthened by the inclusion of Simon Hawke and Matthew Brown. Nicky Hatch could play and Neil Fox keeps his place with Danny Nowell and Anthony Fawcett giving way.

At the top, Sunderland will be out to strengthen their lead by defeating Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby. West Indian Test star Franklin Rose has been in outstanding form recently with both ball and bat and in two games last weekend scored successive half centuries.

He was particularly destructive against the Philadelphia attack in the Banks Salver on Sunday before it was abandoned.

Newcastle captain Wayne Ritzema anticipates a difficult match.

"Let's face it, Sunderland have two internationals opening their bowling," he said.

"Rose is joined by the former England and Durham County paceman Simon Brown, so we know we have a task on our hands.

"I was pleased with the form of Joel Hughes when he made his debut last week and if he repeats the form then we may be able to build a big enough score."

South Northumberland are second and look to have assembled a strong enough line-up to challenge all the way for the championship.

They go to winless Gateshead Fell hopeful that Ian Hunter may be able to play.

The Fell are not unduly worried and feel that with a little luck they could have chalked up one or two successes. They have Graeme Cessford taking over from Richard Stoddart.

Chester-le-Street need to profit from their home game with Benwell Hill if they are to quickly challenge the lead.

The visitors have Martin Lewis and Martin Pollard returning, which means that Steve Dunsford and Simon Curtis are named in the second XI.

Blaydon will be without wicketkeeper David Sherrington for at least another couple of weeks. He is suffering with a neck injury and Geoff Stewart will keep wicket. Johnny O'Neill is Sherrington's likely replacement for the visit of Durham Academy.

Tynemouth go to Stockton almost at full strength. Their only absentee is Wayne Falla while Stockton include Lee Daggett for Rob Atkins.