DARLINGTON RA are awaiting fitness checks on a quartet of players for this afternoon's Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division game at Bishop Auckland.

Professional Ashar Zaidi, Graeme Hird, Colin Cartwright and Stephen Marr are all doubtful after Stephen Bell had to operate as a runner for three of them last Monday.

Bishop Auckland have no injury worries and with Darren Blenkiron having made an excellent start to the season, RA could find it difficult at Kingsway, especially if they are forced into fielding a weakened line-up.

A blow to Darlington is the absence of all-rounder Steve Chapman, whose place is taken by Danny Morgans at Middlesbrough, who have Colin Haslett returning for John Meredith.

Hartlepool make three changes for their fixture with Normanby Hall at Park Drive. Ian Palmer, Danny Shurmer and Paul Johnston are unavailable and are replaced by Ashley Day, Ian Jackson and debutant Will Boyd.

Andrew Harrow resumes for the Hall and Chris Witherley is promoted from the seconds, with Johnny Vaughan and Matthew Hurron going in the opposite direction.

Redcar are stronger for the visit of unchanged Richmondshire with Malcolm Whitehead and Tom Urwin taking over from Lee Powell and Steve Laws.

Following their opening-day victory over Newcastle, Norton face a much stiffer hurdle in the Northern Rock ECB North-East Regional Premier League at Chester-le-Street.

They make one enforced alteration with Danny Nowell taking over from the unavailable Chris Thomas. Former captain Kenny Gresham is still not available and Chris Fawcett will be out for some time after breaking a leg.

The Cestrians' only concern is Alex Brown and they again include Durham County spinner Graeme Bridge, who bowled magnificently last Saturday in claiming five wickets at little cost.

Stockton are at home to Gateshead Fell and hand a debut to 15-year-old spinner Farouk Din since Tom Armstrong cannot play.

Newcomers Hetton Lyons go to Tynemouth pleased to have bowlers Tommy Nixon and Ian Male back in the team. Adam Cragg, a close-season signing from Ashington, plays his first game for Tynemouth after making an unbeaten century in the seconds last weekend.

Two sides who won their opening fixture meet today in the Foster's Durham Senior League, with Durham City entertaining South Shields.

Australian Brett Andrjack has made an immediate impression for City, who expect to be unchanged. Shields are stronger for the inclusion of Philip Bell and Johnny Wightman.

Burnmoor, the only other side to win last Saturday, visit Seaham Harbour with Mark Blunt the ideal replacement for Neil Young.

Seaham hand a home debut to Paras Dogra.

Tudhoe, who suffered last season without an overseas player for the early games, have failed to obtain the services of Fachin Rana.

They hope to bring in a replacement but play their fourth game in The Readers Durham County League at home to Langley Park still under strength.

Champions Esh Winning host Brandon with an unchanged lineup, while Michael Tinkler and Stephen Wallace resume for the visitors.

Kimblesworth, happy with the early-season form of Australian Shannon O'Hara, are at Hylton with the same XI which won on Monday.

Willington entertain Crook Town pleased with the form of Andrew Coe and Neil Davis and they are unchanged, while Crook promote Craig Hawkins to replace Andy Burgess.

The Surridge Sport Durham Coast League champions Castle Eden face Silksworth, who impressed on the opening day. Liam Brown for Tony Banks is Castle's only change, while Silksworth miss Ian Laverick so Philip Middlemiss is given his chance.

Seaham Park meet Murton.

Alan Dick makes his first appearance taking over from Azim Akhtar in the Seaham line-up, while Murton name their strongest side.