Chester-le-Street complete the first half of the season today firm favourites to take another step towards the championship.

They meet bottom-of-the-table Gateshead Fell at Ropery Lane and despite their opponents producing an improved batting performance last weekend, it will be a major surprise if the Cestrians do not gather another healthy return of points.

But skipper Tony Birbeck is taking nothing for granted. "I know every side in the league would like to be in our position and it is comforting to reflect that Sunderland clinched the title last season with eight victories.

"We have already won five times in only nine games, are the only unbeaten side and I believe that even our most critical supporters agree that we are worthy leaders at the halfway stage," said Birbeck.

He puts the side's success down to the way an almost completely new line-up has gelled after being pitched together for the inaugural season in the League.

"People forget that nine newcomers joined the side last season and it has obviously taken a little time for everyone to bond together. Success breeds success and nobody now needs any motivation.

The atmosphere is terrific and we go out thinking we can win every game although we are never complacent," added Birbeck.

David Robson is again absent from this morning's line-up.

He should be recovered from injury in the near future but otherwise the side is at full strength. It has been all doom and gloom for Gateshead Fell to date.

Without a win, they have managed just four draws and five defeats and are well adrift at the bottom of the table.

Despite showing improved form in sharing the spoils with Benwell Hill last weekend, they lost to Stockton on Sunday in the Banks Salver.

Skipper Chris Nichols has a back injury and a double blow is the absence of another senior player, spinner David Young with an ankle problem.

Mark Smith and Tom Gilbert are drifted in but the Fell look as if they have another extremely difficult task on their hands.

Stockton visit second-top Blaydon with Hylton Wordsworth returning in place of Robert Webster. Blaydon are hopeful that strike bowler Colin Campbell will at last make his seasonal debut but Craig Simpson is expected to miss the game.

South Northumberland's early batting line-up is weakened by the absence of Philip Hearle, but fortunately for today's game at home to local rivals Newcastle, Gordon Hollins is able to play. Newcastle struggled in their last outing when they badly missed the batting talents of Chris Clark who is again unavailable.

Mattie Hynd pulled a hamstring fielding last Saturday and he too is sidelined as the pair are replaced by former Chester-le-Street captain Jim Mathewson and ex-Gateshead Fell player Paul Lindsay.

Sunderland host Durham Academy and are still hopeful that Mark Turner will have recovered from a foot injury to resume in Simon Old's line-up.

Chris Rushworth will make way should Turner return and a definite change is the inclusion of Stuart Pattison for Joe Rushworth. Pattison will line up in the same side as his brother Ian who eventually won the match last weekend when he claimed four wickets with his last six deliveries.

A surfeit of runs is anticipated in the fixture between Benwell Hill and Tynemouth.

Both skipper Phil Nicholson and Simon Birtwisle hit unbeaten centuries last Saturday and Tynemouth's early-order batsmen have also been in prolific scoring form.

Skipper Wayne Falla has recovered from a finger injury to add even further depth for the Seasiders who hand a debut to opening bowler Robbie Herdman. Anthony Turner and Neil Levinson make way.