Whickham, enjoying their best season since their entry into the former Tyneside Senior League, have re-engaged Dominic McCabe as professional for a fifth season.

He has taken 34 wickets so far in helping Whickham into fifth position and they look certain to achieve their pre-season ambition of finishing in the top 10 so as to qualify for next year's re-vamped First Division.

Whickham are also pleased with the form of a couple of their junior players who are making a mark in the senior team. Chris Davidson has now made over 500 runs in the top flight while Andrew Hughes is averaging more than 100 at junior level.

Today, Whickham attempt to close in on the leading pack when they host bottom-of-the-table Seaton Burn and if McCabe reproduces the form he showed last week against Alnwick, when he scored 41 and claimed five wickets, then the home side will be in with a great chance of claiming the maximum 20 points.

The top game is between leaders Tynedale and second-placed Annfield Plain.

With just 23 points separating the pair and 20 points at stake in every match, there is a lot to play for. Tynedale are unchanged but skipper Donald Brown will miss the injured Kevin Sample and Tony Dumighan for a match he cannot afford to lose.

Despite being 38 points adrift of Tynedale, Swalwell have not given up hope and now that Australian professional Shaun Bradstreet has recovered from an injured hand they are always in with a chance of beating any side.

Swalwell visit Backworth and another of the championship contenders Sacriston face a stern test at Ashington who reached the final of the League Cup with a narrow victory against Annfield Plain earlier in the week. Dale Ross wins his place in the Ashington line-up since James Harmision has football commitments.

Lanchester, currently in mid table, miss Phil Carlin, Jimmy Potts and Phil Donnelly at Lintz while Blyth, who also need to improve their results if they are to qualify for next season's top flight, have Surjit Singh returning for their game with Morpeth.

Other changes see John Spencer and David Thompson included since David Dent is named for the second XI and Phil Kinnair is on holiday.

Shotley Bridge will be without Lee Murray and Ian Hislop at home to Ryton who welcome the return of spinner Keith Allen and professional, South African Nick Malan, who is in his second season with the club.

Consett, always a force to be reckoned with in the former TSL, have struggled in the bottom half of the table and need to pick up points at Benwell and Walbottle.

The Steelmen will be minus Damien Dimmock for the rest of the season. He has broken a finger and also absent today is Colin McPherson. The pair are replaced by John Handy and Andrew Foster, who plays his first senior match of the season.

Greenside will almost certainly play in next season's Second Division and at Alnwick, who are equal on points near the foot of the table, bring in Tom Marley and Michael Cairns