NEPL champions Chester-le-Street begin their attempt to regain the national club title they won in 2009 with a home match against Durham County League side Crook Town tomorrow.

The Cestrians will start as favourites but before then they travel to Preston Avenue this morning to take on Tynemouth.

Their hosts suffered a mauling at the hands of Blaydon last week, and they have availability problems to contend with today as Dan Newton, Matt Brown and Josh Koen are all busy with exams.

Chester have a full strength squad, although they will be without Ian Hunter tomorrow as the former Derbyshire man will be playing for Northumberland.

Stockton were surprised and disappointed to see Karl Turner's name featuring so prominently in the County League last week, as they thought he would be playing for them when not involved with Hampshire.

The club are continuing their search for a professional, but with nothing imminent, their trip to Benwell Hill this morning presents a difficult hurdle.

The Teessiders' task will not be made any easier by the absence of Matty Brown as he hit a half century against the Bulls in that opening fixture - Tom Coulthard has been drafted in to replace him.

Another of last week's top run scorers, Blaydon's Paul Freary, will also miss the day's action as he attends a wedding, and with Martin Pollard still tied up by exams Ross Nicholson is drafted in for the home game against South Shields.

The Shieldsmen may be able to include Gordon Muchall, and definitely playing will be British Universities opening bat, Luc Durrandt.

Buoyed by opening day success, Hetton Lyons put out an unchanged team at Roseworth Terrace where South North await them. The Bulls are able to strengthen an already formidable line-up by including the returning Jimmy Miller and Durham Academy's Mark Wood.

Gateshead Fell entertain Newcastle with the Jesmond lads likely to start favourites.

Sunderland, with an opening day win under their belts, only have one doubt, although they hope Loughborough University student Michael Turns will be able to make it. Their visitors, Durham Acdemy, include young Middlesbrough off-spinner Ryan Buckley for this Ashbrooke encounter.

In tomorrow's other national cup matches Blaydon host Scarborough, the Fell entertain York, Stockton go to Richmond, Sunderland play South Shields and Tynemouth take on Benwell Hill.