Foster's Durham Senior League: With Hetton Lyons 16 points ahead of their rivals it is vitally important the chasing pack maintain consistent form.

Second-placed Whitburn travel to Marsden looking for a vast improvement in their batting which let them down last week.

In Ashley Thorpe, John Dunn, Neil Ayre and Paul Shields they have four front line batsmen who score plenty of runs. Thorpe is on course to top four figures with 608 runs so far and the left-handed batsman is likely to pose a major threat to Marsden.

Whitburn captain David Bell was not pleased with the batting last week. "If you play well and lost that's acceptable, but our batting against South Hetton was not good enough," said the skipper.

Marsden will again be without captain and opening batsman Chris Mann.

Third-placed Eppleton have the easiest task of the top three.

They visit Seaham Harbour, who lost heavily last Saturday to bottom placed Durham City. Adam Graham is not available for the Harbour and 16-year-old Ryan James returns.

Eppleton are strengthened by the return of Lee Welch. The Eppleton captain has been sidelined for five weeks with a broken thumb. Welch replaces veteran bowler Gary Hulme.

Leaders Hetton Lyons travel to Boldon whose only victory this summer was in mid-May. Brothers Chris and Alan Lamb are missing so Chris Miller and Byron Longstaff come back into the team.

Hetton Lyons are without Martin Ferguson and spin bowler Ian Male. Lee Cowan and Tony Harrison are drafted in.

South Shields visit South Hetton, who have gradually climbed the league. Bob Steel is not available but his team performed superbly at Whitburn without him. John Leslie, David Wilkinson and John Pendlington all had three wickets and, with Ashok Patel also included, their attack will pose problems.

South Shields made one change switching a couple of junior players and Chris Dorothy gives way to 15-year-old Oliver Stedman.

Burnmoor are not willing to give up their title easily. After coming away from Hetton Lyons with a draw in their last game the Moors expect to beat lowly Felling this afternoon.

Opening batsman Barry Dews is hoping to be fit to return to the Burnmoor side after chicken pox and face his former club.

There is a fitness doubt about Neil Young who has chipped a bone in his ankle. Michael Callaghan, who has not figured much in the first team this summer, will play with Neil Parkin and Stephen McDonald excluded.

Felling are making reasonable totals but their bowling lacks penetration. This is not helped today with Chris Pleasants unable to play along with opening batsmen Charlie Wilson and Alan Bullock.

There will be a sigh of relief at Durham City last week after they recorded their first win. It came in emphatic style and sets them up for today's game with Horden, who are able to call on two regulars today. Keith Cheetham and Peter Franks are both included.