South Hetton captain Bobby Steel will be looking for an immediate return to form in the weekend double programme which pitches his side against Murton and Ryhope.

The leaders were hot favourites to take the points against lowly Peterlee last week but South Hetton gained just a single point.

Once again key players John Leslie and David Houghton are injured.

Hylton closed the gap on South Hetton to just eight points and are confident of keeping the pressure up.

They field their first-choice line-up for visits to Castle Eden and Marsden and captain David Hanson reports that team spirit could not be better. "There is a long way to go but I am happy with our form to date. Our only defeat was at South Hetton but we quickly picked ourselves up and everyone is playing for each other," he said.

Ryhope, in third position, are forced into making alterations to their line-up for their two matches at home to Boldon CA and at South Hetton.

George Borthwick, Gary Braithwaite and Alan Raine all miss today's fixture leaving the way open for the return from holiday of Kris Taylor. John Minniss is promoted after scoring 78 for the Seconds last weekend.

Tomorrow, Raine and Borthwick return to the exclusion of Golightly and Craig McGrath, who resumes his normal role as captain of the second team.

Peterlee face Seaham Park and Castle Eden with renewed confidence especially as they expect David Young and Neil Johnson to return.

Easington too are eager, following the return from Darlington RA of Phil Crowther who scored 126 in his first game back last weekend. With Jimmy Bainbridge also in the team, Easington could prove a handful in their only game at home to Dawdon tomorrow.

Castle Eden are unchanged for their double home fixtures with Hylton and Peterlee while Dawdon will be minus Keith Laws for the home match with Bill Quay but he returns at Easington. Craig Price and Mark Ewart, however, are absent for both fixtures.

Michael Evans should be able to resume for Seaham Park against Peterlee and Murton and Silksworth have Michael Waterson coming in for the unavailable Stephen Lobban when they play just once, at Marsden.

Brothers Michael and David Orridge miss out for Bill Quay against Dawdon and Boldon CA while Murton will again miss early-order batsman Richard Lowes when they entertain South Hetton before visiting Seaham Park.

He is being troubled with a back injury and Ian King is also sidelined for both matches.