Things are going from bad to worse for Hartlepool who are not only in the unaccustomed position of being bottom of the table but this week learned that their professional Saurabh Shukla is in hospital in Manchester.

He took ill a week ago and was not included in the side which visited Darlington RA last Saturday. Shukla asked permission to visit his uncle, who is a doctor in Manchester, and was then admitted into hospital with a collapsed lung.

"We are really in limbo. Obviously, we hope that Saurabh makes an early recovery but quite honestly this seems unlikely. Officially we still have a professional but we may try and bring someone in as a temporary replacement," said chairman Jim Kennedy.

"I spoke to his uncle the other night but he wasn't able to throw too much light on Saurabh's condition so we will just have to wait for a medical report."

Kennedy, who has been involved at Park Drive for 60 years, cannot remember the club being in a worse plight.

"One or two of us have been talking and someone thought that we had had to apply for re-election in the 40s but I cannot recall the club being bottom of the table," added Kennedy.

"It's worth pointing out, however, that we have lost just twice in 12 outings and have drawn 10 matches. The weather certainly hasn't helped and we have only played through three games uninterrupted so I am hoping for a much better second half of the season."

Although Hartlepool have been defeated just twice in the League they have yet to win a cup tie which highlights just how far their form has dipped since last season, when they finished a respectable sixth in the table and also did reasonably well in knock-out cricket.

Today, Pool attempt to kick-start their season and move off the bottom when Normanby Hall are visitors to Park Drive. Nick Kennedy is unavailable so David Lamb is included while Ian Jackson returns having recovered from injury which means Izran Hussain dropping down into the second team.

Normanby Hall, just five places off the bottom, have managed only one win and nine draws in 12 matches. They welcome the return of Neil Coverdale who has enjoyed a couple of very successful weeks in the West Indies with British Universities.

It has been a topsy-turvy season for Bishop Auckland but their form has now come good and from being in basement position are now challenging Redcar for the leadership.

"It was all doom and gloom just a few weeks ago and matters came to a head when Gary Wigham suddenly decided to leave to join Shildon but the lads have all pulled together remarkably well under new captain Keith Stones and the results are there for everyone to see," declared fixture secretary Keith Hopper.

Bishops show just one alteration for their crucial game with table-topping Redcar at Kingsway, naming Stephen Ayre for John Russell. Their opponents also keep changes to a minimum bringing in Jason Robinson for Matthew Stokeld.

Saltburn, four points behind Redcar, are at home to Darlington considerably strengthened by the return of Adil Ditta, Stuart Davies and John Wyatt who take over from Martin Ellwood, John Elliott and Shaun Storey.

Saltburn, who lost for only the second time last weekend, will be anxious to immediately regain form and maintain their strong challenge for the title.

Darlington, who are also nicely placed level on points with Bishop Auckland, are weakened by the unavailability of Darren Hickey and Duncan Johnson which leaves the way open for Dion Whitewood and Peter Mellor to shine.

Blackhall, like Bishop Auckland, have also moved up the table and following last week's splendid victory are happy to stick with the same XI for the visit of Darlington RA who are also unchanged.

Guisborough will be wanting to build on their first win of the season achieved last week when they take on Richmondshire. The home side name the same team while Richmond hope that Ben Biker, an absentee last Saturday, will be fit to resume.

Chris Hill is also hopeful of being able to play and it seems likely that Biker and Hill will take over from Tim Waite and Danny Dale.

Northallerton visit Thornaby showing just a couple of alterations which is something of a luxury for them. Richard Chandler and John Place, who joins his brother Jim in the side, resume in place of Dave Leng and Chris Mulholland.

Mike Catchpole and Ali Hargreaves are included in the Marske side for Jeff Morrison and John Wiltshire at home to Middlesbrough who will have the three Roberts brothers, Lee, Brett and Alex playing in the Premier Division together for the first time.

First Division leaders Billingham Synthonia, hoping to clinch a place in the Premier Division, face Guisborough without Phil Bartley and Keith Parnell, whose places are filled by Simon Driver and Mark Binks.

The visitors, meanwhile, are strengthened with the return of Robert Weatherhead and Colin Welsh which means Geoff Coates and Craig Lidster dropping down into the third team.

Darlington visit second-top Barnard Castle minus Daniel Morgans, Chris Dent, Dion Whitehead and Peter Mellor whose replacements are Paul Whiteside, Shaun Russell, Jamie Watson and Matthew Morgans.

Middlesbrough bring in Ross Watmore but Lee Allen is unavailable and Paul Cook injured when Mattie Brown's side meet Marske, who have Jeff Morrison and Ben Walker playing at Acklam Park.

Hartlepool are at Stokesley and welcome the return of captain Chris Suttill, who has been out with a back problem.

Also included are Isran Hussain and Matthew Richardson and Suttill is hoping that he will have better luck with the toss which he has won just once this season.

For their match at home to full-strength Wolviston, Northallerton have John Gregory resuming as captain and both Dave Leng and Chris Mulholland join the team.

Yarm play Great Ayton hoping for more of the same from 17-year old Chris Mozley, who was just 10 runs short of a century last weekend