A win for Sunderland in the first Wear-Tyne derby would put the Wearsiders in a strong position to clinch the championship.

The appalling weather last weekend washed out the entire programme on Saturday and in Monday's matches second-top Durham Academy had the better of the elements and trimmed Sunderland's lead by four points.

Even so, Sunderland should be too strong for the bottom-of-the-table Tynesiders.

"Obviously, we are very pleased with our position since there are only two games to play. We are not getting carried away, however, and we know from experience that anything can happen but we feel the biggest obstacle to us winning the title could be rain.

"Given fine weather today and next Saturday, we feel fairly confident of finishing in pole position," enthused Sunderland secretary Mike Smith.

Sunderland have led the table since just before the half-way stage and despite the uncertainties of the weather, they have rarely looked like being toppled.

They are unchanged today with Simon Brown again deputising for the unavailable Richie Barnes.

Newcastle make just one alteration with Neil Wake taking over from the injured Mark Turnbull.

Durham Academy expect to be at full strength for their match at Chester-le-Street who have slipped into the bottom half of the table after challenging for the championship during most of the summer.

The Cestrians await news on whether Gary Hunter can play. He was forced to miss Monday's match but is expected to resume. "We had an nightmare couple of days last weekend. The weather was dreadful and the season has been stop start. It hasn't given the players a chance to get into any rhythm, yet it is almost over," bemoaned Cestrian coach Steve Greensword.

Two former NYSD League rivals Norton and Stockton are in opposition. They are in the bottom five so points are important as they attempt to finish the season on a high.

Richard Thomas has a broken finger and his replacement in the Stockton line-up is Grant Worrall.

Tynemouth, who together with Newcastle have not won a game, host Gateshead Fell with strike bowler Craig Stanley coming in for Stephen Mordue, who drops into the Second XI.

Gateshead Fell also make just one alteration, naming Mark Brown for the unavailable Phil Dicks. Next Saturday, the Fell will officially open their new all-weather nets which have cost in the region of £30,000.

Nick White for Barry Evans is the only change in the Benwell Hill line-up at South Northumberland who are considerably strengthened with the return of fit-again left-arm spinner Nigel Campbell, Gordon Hollins and Nick Tomlinson.

l The Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League season may be over, but there is still the Foster's Cup to play for.

The semi finals take place today with Sacriston, who finished sixth in the league, playing Shotley Bridge.

Shotley Bridge, placed eighth in the league, expect to be at full-strength and they will be hoping Peter Collingwood strikes form with the bat. He is the side's leading run-maker and averages 57.9 having scored 405 runs.

The other semi final pairs runners-up Swalwell with champions Tynedale. Shaun Bradstreet has returned to Australia so misses out for Swalwell after compiling an average of 145.0 and from 10 visits to the wicket scored 725 runs. He also took 39 wickets at a cost of 6.3 runs apiece.

Tynedale are likely to name the first-choice line-up in their attempt to complete the double