Phili still without pair

Most sides have been able to include one of the two Durham County players allocated to them at some stage, but Philadelphia have been unable to call on either Steve Harmison or Nicky Phillips.

With Harmison included in the England squad against Zimbabwe at Lord's and Phillips playing for the county in their game with Derbyshire at the Riverside, Phili once again miss out today when they meet South Northumberland at Bunker Hill.

Instead they will rely in the main on the players who led them from fourth from top position in their initial season during 2002.

A notable addition is left-arm spinner Lee Beaumont, who was signed following an impressive performance in the Darlington Building Society NYSD League with Middlesbrough.

The club's other newcomer, James Davidson from Stockton, has also been a regular as Phili attempt to build on just one win in four attempts. Their only defeat came at the hands of Durham Academy who many at Bunker Hill rate very highly this season.

South Northumberland captain John Graham reports that former skipper Adam Heather is included in his line-up. Another boost is the return of James Miller, who takes over from Tom Seymour and they are hopeful that either Neil Killeen or Ian Hunter will turn out for them. Chester-le-Street have a seven-point lead over Stockton at the top following last week's washed out programme when they took more bonus points than any other side. They are involved in the match of the day with Durham Academy at Ropery Lane.

The Cestrians have won two and drawn two of their four games, while the Academy, despite losing once, are in fourth position.

Stockton, who struggled throughout last season, have made a much better than anticipated start to the campaign. At home to Sunderland, who have the same number of points as the Teessiders, they show one alteration with Matthew Creese coming in for Chris Hooker, who has had an appendix operation.

Sunderland have the same record and identical points as Stockton and they rely on the line-up which has served them so well to date. In Franklin Rose, Adam Applegarth and the former England and Durham paceman Simon Brown they have probably the most potent attack in the league.

Norton are still without a victory and at home to Newcastle, who have also yet to break their duck, are boosted with the inclusion of Durham's Nicky Hatch, who replaces Danny Knowles. Tom Stonoch, who last season played for Durham City, makes his debut in the Newcastle side which continues to be led by Wayne Ritzema.

Blaydon, with just a draw from a cancelled game to show after four fixtures, are uncomfortable just three points ahead of Tynemouth at the bottom of the table. Blaydon go to local rivals Gateshead Fell, another side yet to taste victory, but keep faith with the same XI hoping that West Indian spinner

Neil McGarrell will repeat the form which to date has earned 13 wickets in four outings, including two five-wicket hauls.

The Fell bring in John Austin-Waugh for experienced left-arm spinner David Young, who has given many years sterling service to the Low Fell club. Marcus North skippers the side and if he hits form his duel with McGarrell could decide the outcome. In attack Gateshead Fell name Graeme Cessford, who was formerly with Tynedale.

Tynemouth are in basement position with just a draw from a washed-out game and three defeats to show from their first four matches. They struggled throughout last season and it looks as if it could be another difficult year for them. They are at champions Benwell Hill, who after surprisingly losing their first game of the season to Stockton, have hit form.

It appears that Tynemouth will have to perform better than they have to date if they are to show profit, but despite the disappointment of losing three times they name an unchanged XI.

Benwell Hill skipper Phil Nicholson reports that Martin Lewis cannot play so his place is taken by Mark Wright and a further change sees Northumbria University captain Simon Curtis come in for John Gray, who drops into the second XI.