It's the battle of the bottom today when former NYSD League rivals Norton and Stockton square up with vital points at stake.

The pair are too near to basement side Tynemouth for comfort and with the possibility of one side being relegated, the outcome is crucial. Both sides have won just once in eight attempts, but Stockton have collected 12 more bonus points than their rivals.

Norton are minus Andrew Tait so Justin Peacock is given his chance. Chairman Keith Symington hopes that Durham's James Brinkley will be able to play.

Stockton show two changes. Cousins Kevin and Stephen Ward are named because Danny Lewis is working and Grant Worrall drops into the Second XI.

A battle royal is also developing for the championship and the leadership changed hands again last weekend when Benwell Hill moved into pole position.

Skipper Phil Nicholson is delighted with his side's recent form culminating in victory at Stockton last Saturday.

"I was pleased that Stockton were positive about playing the match and with the performance. We have hit form in the last three weeks but it will be tough going trying to stay at the top," said Nicholson whose chances against Sunderland are enhanced with the return of Simon Birtwisle.

A blow to the Wearsiders is the absence of captain Simon Old, and his place is taken by Paul Goodwin.

Following two successive defeats, reigning champions Chester-le-Street recovered form last weekend and their only absentee when they play Durham Academy at Maiden Castle is David Robson.

Philadelphia skipper Andrew Roseberry, the former Glamorgan and Leicestershire player, is delighted with his side's progress during their first season in the League.

He said: "Phili were pleased when they were admitted but knew a difficult task was in prospect. The other 11 clubs had had two seasons to become accustomed to a new format."

Blaydon are visitors to Bunker Hill and they expect to hand a debut to Clayton Kopco, who has recorded some good scores in the second XI. Chris Stephenson is unavailable and the Tynesiders once again miss Durham's Graeme Bridge, who has yet to make an appearance.

"In our first season in the league we engaged Paul Collingwood as our Durham contracted player but he was unable to play a single match for one reason or another,'' said Blaydon chairman Ken Forster.

"We did not bother with anyone from the Riverside last summer but when Stephen Humble joined Swalwell and Ray Marshall moved to Whickham, we thought we would strengthen our squad by bringing in Bridge, but so far he has not been able to help."

Basement side Tynemouth have John Burn lining up in the home game with Gateshead Fell and on Tyneside there is a derby involving South Northumberland and Newcastle.

With Ian Gilthorpe ruled out, South North include Richard Brooke and Newcastle also keep changes to a minimum, replacing the unavailable Mark Turnbull by Tom Burne.

l Consett hand seasonal debuts to two players as they attempt to move off the bottom of the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League table by defeating reigning champions Ashington.

To boost their chances Consett welcome the decision of Ian Stoneman to return to Blackfyne from Burnopfield and Peter Handy has his first start of the campaign.

Ashington have failed to find the consistency which was the hallmark of their game last summer and with three defeats languish in the bottom of the table. Ross Sample, who has scored an abundance of runs in the second team, will make his first appearance at senior level because Michael Levinson is unavailable.

At the top, Lintz are happy to retain the same line-up which toppled Sacriston last week when they face a potentially tricky match at Swalwell, who prefer Aaron Todd to Nigel Bates.

Second-placed Annfield Plain are at full strength for the visit of rival title contenders Sacriston, who announce their first-choice line-up with the return of Ian Cruikshank for John Alderson.

Graham Carr will make his debut for Burnopfield following his transfer from Annfield Plain.

The talented youngster, who hit a half century for the juniors in midweek, takes over from the unavailable Javed Iqbal at Benwell and Walbottle. Lanchester have made a good start to their first season in the top flight and they visit Tynedale minus the injured Andrew Donnelly