Thornaby skipper Neil Marsden is confident that his side will survive in the top flight and reckons that just another win will do the trick.

Following an uncertain start to their first season back in the Premier Division, Thornaby have shown better form in recent weeks and are now fifth from bottom, 26 points ahead of basement side Normanby Hall.

"We are not counting our chickens but if we can pick up another 20-points victory and hold our own in other matches, then I think we will be safe," claimed Marsden who enthused at the junior side's League Cup Final victory over Middlesbrough earlier in the week.

Chris Metcalfe, 16, holds his place for the visit to Bishop Auckland after hitting a half century in the junior team's victory and batting very well in the senior side against Blackhall last weekend.

Thornaby show two changes this afternoon with Phil Merryweather and Phil Gallacher returning in place of the unavailable Gary Sexton and Steve Cuthbert.

Bishop Auckland, licking their wounds after being shot out for only 34 at Saltburn, are now in the bottom half of the table after temporarily threatening the leading sides just a few weeks ago.

Even so, they show just one change and it is in the bowling department with Jason Budd taking over from John Russell senior.

Hartlepool, like Thornaby, are confident of escaping the drop which only a couple of weeks ago was beginning to look a possibility. Their fortunes have taken a turn for the better especially since the appointment of Pakistani Aaley Haider who really impressed last weekend when he hit eight fours and a six in an unbeaten 59.

"Aaley has settled in very well and has a good attitude. He is encouraging the players and defeating Darlington by nine wickets has boosted everybody's confidence. I am quite sure that we will avoid relegation," claimed Pool chairman Jim Kennedy.

John Fitzpatrick is unavailable for the game at Blackhall but David Lamb has returned from holiday and is a ready replacement.

Blackhall are minus Billy Hornby, who recently returned to the club. Mark Cushlow is still away and the side will be captained by Richard Watts, whose brother Colin fills the vacancy created by Hornby's unavailability.

With only two points separating the pair, the outcome of the game between Redcar and Saltburn is of crucial importance to the championship aspirations of both sides.

Saltburn are boosted by the return of Jimmy Lawrence and Faz Ahmed who take over from John Elliott and Shaun Storey while Redcar have Martin Hood resuming for the unavailable Craig Lumsden.

Guisborough, who suffered a double disappointment last Sunday when they lost in the quarter final of the National Club Championship and also went down to Middlesbrough in the final of the Kerridge Cup, resume their quest for the title visiting Marske who are now in the top half of the table.

Guisborough's form has been so good in the league in recent weeks, that it is not surprising that they name an unchanged team but Marske make a couple of alterations with Tim Hood and Phil Goldsbrough lining up, taking over from Mike Catchpole and Jeff Morrison.

Middlesbrough, still in with a chance of winning the treble, meet Saltburn at Acklam Park tomorrow in the final of the MacMillan Cup. Last Sunday they lifted the Kerridge Cup and this afternoon will attempt to rekindle their title prospects by defeating Northallerton.

Liam Plunkett is handed his first-team debut and also included in Danny Evans' side is Paul Cook. Colin Haslet is unavailable and Janisar Hussain drops into the second team.

Charlie Heap will play his first game of the season and joins his brother Barnaby in the Northallerton side which also includes brothers Jonathan and Chris Barnes, the latter turning out for only his second match of the summer.

Luke Jarvis also lines up for the visitors who are without Dave Elliott, Dave Wake and Richard Chandler.

Bottom-of-the-table Normanby Hall visit Darlington RA desperately in need of a victory to improve their chances of staying up. So far they have won just once in 17 games but with nine matches still to play need to start and pick up points.

Andy Fothergill resumes for Darlington, taking over from Paul Bentley, when Richmondshire visit Feethams. Mark Layfield cannot play for the visitors who hope that Luke Smith might be able to take his place.

Billingham Synthonia, who managed to stage and win their match last Saturday when nearest rivals for promotion Barnard Castle had their game abandoned, defend a narrow six-points lead at the top of Division One when they take on Darlington.

Synners captain Denis Wing will field a full-strength side which includes Simon Driver and Chris Atkinson, who has played only once in the last month.

Darlington have Peter Bentley, Derek Coates and Simon Whitehead lining-up in a strong side.

Seaton Carew, for their home match with Barnard Castle are minus Stephen Peart, who is getting married today, Martin Skirving and Richard Evans, who has decided to join Norton. The trio are replaced by John Tully and youngsters Andrew Watt and Daniel Robinson.

Barnard Castle, meanwhile, cannot call upon David Stanwix or John Ashcroft whose replacements are Andrew Toulson and Peter Clark, who has been opening the batting for his school for most of the season.

Guisborough await a fitness test on Chris Murray to see whether he can join his brother Colin in the home game with Marske.

Colin Welch and Phil Latham both miss out and Marske also make a couple of alterations with Jeff Morrison coming in since Phil Goldsbrough has been promoted into the Premier Division side.

Peter Guy takes over as captain of Northallerton from John Gregory while visitors Middlesbrough have Janisar Hussain and Michael Cook lining up under skipper Mattie Brown.

Middlesbrough have a match at Great Ayton tomorrow and Paul Davidson and Liam Plunkett are included since Mattie Brown will be on first team duty and Mike Cook is unavailable